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Motorcycle Chums 
Stormbound. 

OR 

The Strange Adventures 
of a Road Chase 

By ANDREW CAREY LINCOLN 

CHAPTER I 

A FRIENDLY BOUT WITH THE GI OVES 
sure beats the record!'’ 

Whoever heard of Christmas holidays 
with not even a speck of shore ice on Lake 
Constance to encourage a fellow?” 

''Huh! things have got to a pretty pass, I 
think, when we go and have nearly baseball 
weather this time of year. Why, what d’ye 
think, I got a brand new sweater on Christ- 
mas, which was j^esterday — picked out the 
color myself, just to suit my fine taste; and 
what good’s it going to do me; tell me that. 
Freckles? ” 

"Just you hold your horses, Budge; this 
weather ain’t going to last right along; is it, 
Jack?” 

"Well,” observed the third boy, with a 



MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


laugh, “I should say uot. Fact is, the way 
winter keeps holding ofif this year makes the 
old weather prophets say we^re just sure to 
get a bitter time of it in February and March. 
Got to even up somehow, you know, boys.” 

'^That^s it,” said the tall, angular boy, 
who was always called Freckles” by his 
mates, because at most times he sported a 
liberal supply of the same; though in reality 
he bore the name of Ambrose Codling, ^^and 
mark my words Budge you ^11 find plenty 
of use for that same sweater before the 
flowers bloom again.” 

'^But think of me,” Jack went on to say, 
whimsically, ^^they made me a present of the 
finest pair of hockey skates you ever saw; 
and from the looks of things right now, you ^d 
think I ought to just hang the same on the 
wall of my room, decorated with the colors 
of Staunton High. Now, if they were water 
skates, I might find use for them. ” 

At that there was a laugh from Freckles, 
while the fat boy who answered to the name 
of Budge, looked rather confused, and turned 
redder than ever in the face. 

It was no secret that Budge aspired to be 
a great inventor, and that once upon a time 
within the last year he had announced to 


STORMBOUND 


9 


certain chums how he had made a wonder- 
ful pair of what he called water shoes/^ with 
which any fellow would be able to skim along 
over the surface of the fine lake that lay only 
a few miles away from Staunton, the lively 
town in which these boys lived. 

So, one day he invited them out to witness 
his triumph. Lucky for poor Budge that he 
had limited the number of guests to his three 
sworn chums, else would his humiliation have 
been greater. 

He had fastened to his feet a pair of strange, 
boat-like contrivances that looked something 
like enormous snowshoes built up in the shape 
of boxes. Then off he had started with the 
greatest confidence in the world, while the 
others kept alongside in a couple of Rangeley 
Lake skiffs. 

Alack and alas! Before Budge had taken 
six great strides with his wonderful water 
shoes’’ he must have lost his balance in some 
way, for he struggled desperately, waved his 
arms frantically, and then vanished from 
view. 

The other boys had to cut the clumsy con- 
trivance loose in a big hurry, and drag the un- 
fortunate inventor aboard a boat, more dead 
than alive; for Freckles claimed that Budge 


10 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


had swallowed enough water to lower the 
lake several inches. 

From that day on Budge never attempted 
to walk on the water again; and for fear lest 
the more agile Freckles might want to tiy 
the shoes, and excel him at his own game, 
he had taken an ax, and deliberately smashed 
the things into kindling-wood. 

That was doubtless what Jack Kinkaid 
so slyly referred to when he spoke about 
what fun he might have, could he change 
his now useless Christmas present into 
water skates.’’ 

At the time the three lads were thus ex- 
chajuging views on the probability of the 
week’s holidays passing without their cus- 
tomary frolics on the ice, or with their bob- 
sleds down the steep hillsides near Staunton, 
they were gathered in what the fat boy. 
Budge, whose real name was Nelson Clifford, 
chose to call his ^Taboratory . ” 

His father was the mayor of Staunton, 
being a wealthy, retired business man; and 
having fond recollections of his own boyhood, 
he sympathized so much with the aspirations 
of his son that there was nothing within the 
bounds of reason which the latter expressed 
a desire to own, but that his wish was granted. 


STORMBOUND 


II 


The fact of the matter was that Budge 
showed such an abnoimal inclination to put 
on flesh that his parents, were worried. They 
believed that in order to counteract this 
unpleasant tendency the boy should indulge 
in all manner of vigorous outdoor sports. 
Indeed, Dr. Codling, father of Freckles, had 
secretly advised such a course of treatment; 
and as it just suited the ideas of Budge, he had 
a motorcycle and all manner of up-to-date 
appliances in his gymnasium, from Indian 
clubs to lifting machines and parallel bars. 

The '' laboratory was a little den off from 
the barn which had been transformed into a 
gymnasium at the time the change had been 
made from a carriage and pair to a touring 
car, and a spacious garage built. Indeed, 
this very room had doubtless once been used 
to hang the various sets of harness in. And 
here, too. Budge must have wasted the mid- 
night oil, or electricity, in fashioning those 
amazing water shoes’' that would have 
brought him to his death, only for his wisdom 
in having his chums along at the time he first 
gave them a real test on the lake. 

There was a fourth member of the little 
circle, and his name was Alec Travers. To 
tell the truth he was the leader of the quar- 


12 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


tette; and the rest were only too pleased 
to look up to him in this capacity, as a general 
thing. Once in a while Freckles, or it might 
be Budge, would try to usurp the reins; and 
at such time good-natured Alec let them 
have all the rope they wanted, even encourag- 
ing them in their ambition, possibly knowing 
that the usual result would come about all 
the sooner. 

Alec had no parents, but lived with a 
guardian, a Mr. Worthington, who was well- 
to-do; and as the boy would come into quite 
a good-sized fortune when he reached the 
age of twenty-five, according to his father’s 
will, he never lacked for means. 

But Alec was rather different from most 
lads of his age, and Mr. Worthington had 
no fear of his liberality being abused in the 
slightest degree. 

Wonder if Alec’s thought up anything 
for us to do the next four days,” remarked 
Freckles, as he picked up some object that 
he discovered lying on the desk of the am- 
bitious inventor; whereupon it was deftly 
snatched out of his hands by Budge, and 
rammed in a capacious drawer. Hello! 
what’s that mean. Budge?” the tall boy 
added; ^^what under the sun are you trying 


STORMBOUND 


13 


to get up next? Looked like a frog to me/^ 

^‘Frog!’’ ejaculated the inventor, looking 
daggers at his chum, seems like your edu- 
cation must a been neglected, that you can ^t 
tell a real bird when you see one. ’’ 

^‘Oh! was that what it was?’’ exclaimed 
Freckles, ^^well, what’s the difference any 
way, only a few feathers. Why do I say 
that, you’re just going to ask? Why, didn’t 
you ever hear the story about the Irishman 
who went out hunting shortly after he landed 
in America?” 

‘^No, go on and tell it. Freckles,” urged 
Jack, who was looking at some prints the 
owner of the ^4aboratory” had tacked on the 
walls, and which included airships, motor- 
cycle designs, and all manner of things along 
those lines. 

^‘Well, you must know they don’t have 
frogs over in Ireland, at least that’s what 
I’ve been told by Mickey O’Brannagan down 
at the livery stable. And Pat, seeing a lovely 
red-bird, took deliberate aim, shut both 
eyes, and banged away. As he pulled both trig- 
gers at the same time, of course he landed on 
his back. When he got to his feet, the bird 
was out of sight* but Pat felt sure he must 
have bagged his game, so going up to the tree 


H 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


he began to hunt around under it, till he 
suddenly spied a frog. He looked at it in 
astonishment, picked it up, and held it out; 
and this is what he said: 'Arrah! but ye 
wore a foine birrd afore I knocked all the 
fithers aff yer back!’ ” 

Of course the other boys had a laugh at 
ilie story; but Freckles returned again to 
the attack. His curiosity had really been 
aroused by that rough pattern of a bird 
which he had found on the desk of the am- 
bitious but thus far very unsuccessful Budge. 

'^See here, you,” he remarked, shaking his 
long forefinger in the face of his stout chum ; 
'‘what ’re you up to now? I hope you 
haven’t got a notion in your head that you 
can invent an aeroplane that will beat a 
creation hollow. Just remember the fate 
of Darius Green and his flying machine, 
will you, and take warning? Why, bless 
your innocent soul. Budge, if ever you tried 
to fly, and took a header, you’d splash all 
over the country when you struck. Take 
my advice, and don ’t do it. Bad enough for 
you to ride a motorcycle, and go scouring all 
over this broad land with Alec, Jack and 
myself; but draw the line at sticking to the 
earth. If any thing happens to you while on 


STORMBOUND 


21 


It was only a question of time when the sur- 
plus of flesh borne by the challenger must 
weary him; and then would come the oppor- 
tunity Freckles was waiting for. 

Finally the efforts of Budge to get in a 
swift, well-aimed blow began to tell on him, 
and instead of being the aggressor, he had to 
defend himself. Freckles seemed to wake up, 
and it was he who did the dancing around now, 
making frequent jabs at some exposed part 
of the fat boy^s body, and often landing with 
more or less of a thump, that would bring 
out a grunt from the one who received it. 

Faster and warmer grew the battle, and 
evidently Budge must take a good many more 
private lessons from his instructor before he 
could best the lanky chum at this lively game. 
Both were perspiring freely, but Budge was 
as obstinate as a mule — ^he had been nick- 
named by his boy friends simply because as 
a rule he would never budge — ^and refused 
to acknowledge defeat, seeming to hope for 
a lucky break that would favor him. 

Suddenly Freckles made a tremendous 
effort, and shot his mitt out with such power 
that poor Budge was knocked backward, 
struck a window, and disappeared from the 
view of his chums amid a jingling of broken 
glass. 


22 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


CHAPTER II 

THE BEARER OF NEWS 

“Oh! thuiider! I didn’t mean to do that!” 
gasped the astonished Freckles, when he 
heard the crash, and saw his antagonist 
vanish through the window, which he really 
carried with him, sash and all. 

Jack Kinkaid was quick to act. 

While the tall boy stood there, almost 
petrified with surprise and consternation, he 
sprang to the opening, and thrust his head 
out. Immediately he was seen to stretch 
his hand toward some one who must have 
been within reach. 

It was Budge, of course. He had landed 
on a big piano case that by the greatest of 
good luck happened to lie just under that 
particular barn window; just as if on purpose 
to receive his sprawling figure. 

Freckles saw that his face was streaked 
in little patches with blood; and that aroused 
him as nothing else could do. Remorse was 
tearing at his heart; he already felt de- 


STORMBOUND 


23 


cidedly nu comfortable because he had al- 
lowed himself to put so much ^^steam’^iuto 
that last unfortunate blow. 

“Oh! I^m awful sorry, Budge, I did it; 
sure I never meant to hit you so hard!’^ he 
exclaimed, hastening to the side of the fat 
boy, as Jack assisted the other to carefully 
crawl back through the window. 

Even in defeat Budge refused to acknowl- 
edge unconditional surrender. 

“Huh!’’ he grunted, being very short of 
wind, “you needn’t flatter yourseK that you 
did it all. Chances are, if I hadn’t caught 
my heel in a crack just when you lunged for 
me, my little game would a-worked, and 
I’d a-ducked the neatest ever. Say, Jack, 
am I a sight; will I look like the map of 
Ireland, with all them scratches running 
criss-cross over my face? And just to think, 
there’s goin’ to be one of them nice barn 
dances Friday night, up-country, and I’ve 
asked Susie Thomas to go with me! Oh! 
my stars, am I marked for life? Who’s got 
some court plaster handy? Freckles, don’t 
you always carry a supply along? Take a 
good look. Jack, and tell me the worst. I’m 
gettin’ a good grip on myself, and I kin 
stand it now. Go on.” 


24 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


When Jack had investigated, and rubbed 
the streaks of blood away with his handker- 
chief, he announced the glad news that he 
did not believe any serious damage had been 
done by the broken glass. 

^'Only a few scratches, Budge, believe me, 
he declared, ^^and ti^ey’ll never show two 
weeks from now. But I warn you that you 
won ^t look as pretty right away as you have 
been doing. It’ll take haK a foot of plaster 
to cover all these lines. And let me tell 
you it was as lucky an escape as anybody ’d 
want to have. Why, you might have cut 
yourself terribly with all that broken glass. 
Every pane went to smash. My! but you 
shot out of that window like a cannon ball!” 

Means more work for me a-puttin’ that 
sash to rights again; but I’m that thankful 
it’s no worse. I’ll do it gladly. But don’t 
think I’m going to throw up the sponge, and 
cry quits with you. Freckles. Just you wait, 
that’s all.” 

^^Till you get a few more lessons from Sim, 
is that it?” retorted the other, with a grinj 
*^oh! all right. Budge, only next time we have 
to go I’m meaning to make sure there’s no 
window for you to back through, when I give 
you a gentle little tap. I was badly scared, 


STORMBOUND 


25 


and that^s right, when I heard the smash, 
and saw your heels going through there/^ 
^‘Well,^' observed Budge, in a resigned 
mood, reckon I oughtn^t to put up any 
kick if only I look decent enough to go to 
that barn dance on Friday; I^d hate sure 
to disappoint Susie/’ 

''So far as that goes, don’t you worry; 
I ’ll see that she gets there, if so be you can ’t 
go,” remarked Freckles, calmly; at which the 
other stared at him, frowned, and shook his 
head while waiting for Jack to start using the 
court plaster that had been produced. 

"You seem to be mighty accommodating, 
Freckles Codling, ” he remarked, suspiciously. 
"Makes me remember that you used to be 
sweet on Susie yourseh, till she took to going 
places with me. P’raps this was a plot to 
knock me out of attending that dance with 
her. I begin to smeU a rat. ” 

"Then hurry up and get your broom and 
basket, because, you see, they weren ’t needed 
to sweep me up after all,” chuckled the tall 
boy, throwing the padded boxing gloves 
aside after he had unlaced them. 

"Listen!” exclaimed Jack, pausing a min- 
ute later, in the act of covering the last double 


26 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


scratch, which Budge himself humorously 
referred to as the ‘^canals on Mars/^ 

‘^Somebody coming, that^s right added 
Freckles, who had a keen pair of ears. 

“And of course it must be Alec; because 
none of that old Gid Staples’ crowd ever 
bother us nowadays,” added Budge. 

“A good reason why,” Jack went on to 
say. “We managed to teach them a good 
lesson the last time, and they’re in the same 
class with the burnt child that dreads the 
fire. They know how it hurts to run up 
against the mower, or fall into the thresh- 
ing machine. Yes, it’s our Alec, all right, 
for there goes the signal.” 

“Answer it, somebody, please,” urged 
Budge, “it ought to be my place, as the 
fellow owning the ranch; but with all this 
sticking plaster on my cheeks and nose and 
forehead. I feel like my face was crinkled 
up, and I couldo ’t crack a smile to save me. 
That’s right. Freckles, you’re a good whistler. 
And here he comes.” 

The outer door opened to give admittance 
to a well-built boy, who possessed a resolute 
face, and brown eyes, as well as curly hair 
of the same color. 


STORMBOUND 


27 


Of course he stared as he saw what Jack 
was doing. 

^^Well, tell me what’s been going on here 
among you fellows?” he asked as soon as he 
could catch his breath. 

Freckles simply pointed toward the gaping 
sash; and naturally the sight of this only 
increased the wonderment of the newcomer. 

^‘Tell me,” he exclaimed, ^^did somebody 
throw a stone through that window, and hit 
you. Budge? But no, that couldn’t have 
been, because I don’t see even a little bit 
of broken glass on the floor. That sash must 
have gone outward; say, did you fall with 
it. Budge? What were you doing? Oh! I 
see now; you’ve got your gloves on, haven’t 
you? "VVlio did it, Freckles?” 

Yes, we were having a friendly little bout, 
you see, and he made a crack at me which I 
meant to duck; but I caught my heel and he 
landed. As I’d lost my balance, why, you 
see, I just went kerflop through backwards. 
Tell me, am I going to be marked for life, 
Alec? Jack says not, but then mebbe he’s 
just telling me that so I won’t know the 
w:orst all at once. D’ye think I might go to 
that barn dance Friday night. Will I look 
like a butcher? Can I take the court plaster 


28 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


off by then, would you think, Alec? Oh! 
tell me something to encourage me, won’t 
you?” 

So Alec had to gravely examine his hurts, 
and when this had been done he assured the 
anxious fat boy that he had had the luckiest 
tumble in all his career, since the chances 
were as forty- nine out of fifty that he might 
have met with a terrible injury, with aU that 
splintered glass around him. 

Being very clumsy Budge was frequently 
getting into trouble with his numerous stum- 
bles. His friends could look back to a multi- 
tude of scrapes he had got into just because 
it was so easy for him to trip, and go lunging 
headlong. But his good nature covered a 
multitude of short-comings; it was like the 
mantle of charity that hides a host of petty 
sins. 

^H’m glad to hear you say all that, Alec,” 
Budge went on, as Jack finished the job of 
plastering his face, until he looked a curious 
sight, and might have passed for a tattooed 
South Sea Islander, so Freckles hastened to 
assure him; telling the other that he had the 
chance of his life to make a profitable engage- 
ment. 

“You wouldn’t go and contract with Bar- 


STORTvIBOUND 


29 


num for his fat boy when we wanted you to/' 
he went on to say, with pretended indigna- 
tion,'' and now you'd command a much 
higher salary as the Wild Boy from Borneo, 
just caught in the bush, and with his face 
all tattooed after the style of his tribe. 
You'll be sorry you let this chance go by. 
Budge. Think of the good times you'd 
have, seein' the world free, and gettin' all 
the good eatin', same's the other freaks. 
Think it over. It's the chance of a life-time, 
old feUer." 

Budge, however, was used to the chaffing 
of this joking chum; so that he only nodded 
his head, made a little grimace of pain, and 
then grinned horribly; that word is the only 
one capable of describing his appearance 
with all those strips of the court plaster 
adorning his red face, and the whole distorted 
into what he doubtless intended to be a 
smile. 

<< Forget it, won't you, fellers?" he re- 
marked. ^‘It's a past number now. I'm 
the only one to suffer. Yes, if you want, 
Freckles, you can even up by coming around 
tomorrow morning, and help me put new 
glass in that sash. Be sure'n come early, 
mind you, because," with a quick glance 


30 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


toward Alec, something might happen that 
we^d want to skip out of town in a hurry/’ 

'^That’s right,” added Freckles, '^be- 
cause I c’n see by the look on Alec’s face, 
that he’s holding something back right now. 
What’s the use of keeping us on the anxious 
seat, so? Suppose you own up, Alec. When 
do we start?” 

'^Just as soon after breakfast as we can 
get away. Fact is, I ’m going to ask you three 
to drop around, and have an early bite with 
me, so’s to gain an hour or so of time,” Alec 
went on to say. 

That caused the others to exchange puz- 
zled glances. 

‘^What’s all the hurry about, Alec?” 
grumbled Budge, who never liked to be unduly 
pushed, but preferred to just take his own time 
about things, like most stout people do, 

Rome wasn ’t built in a day. And you know 
breakfast ’s nearly always my best meal of the 
whole day. If I don ’t get my usual supply 
aboard then, I’m apt to be peeved for a long 
time afterwards, and make everybody sorry. ” 
Yes, why stir up the roaring lion that way, 
Alec?” Freckles remarked. ^^You told us 
once that we ought to make that cabin camp 
of Mr. Sands’ in less’n six hours, under 


STORMBOUND 


3! 


favorable conditions; and sure, the roads are 
pretty fair right now, considering that it's 
close to the end of December, when they're 
nearly always buried under two feet of snow. " 

Alec pretended to look surprised, for he 
elevated his eyebrows. 

^^Who said anything about Mr. Sands' 
camp?" he observed. 

‘^What! Ain't we going up there, then?" 
demanded Budge, weakly. 

^^Not that I know of," came the quick 
reply. 

^'Then where are we going, Alec?" asked 
Freckles. ^'For goodness' sake alive, if you 
ain't the most tantalizing feller I ever saw. 
Headed for Florida this time; or is it a nice 
little spin down through Mexico, to see what 
the revolutionists are doing these days? 
But whatever it is, tell us right away. Budge 
here will surely have a fit and burst his hoops 
if you don't spit it out quick." 

^^Well, the fact is, boys, after we start out 
in the early morning, I don 't know any more 
than you do where we'll bring up. We're 
going somewhere, and in a big hurry, too," 
and Alec calmly seated himself, while the 
others gathered around him in a semi-circle. 


32 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


their faces eloquent of curiosity in great 
streaks. 

^^Oh! come off, Alec, and stop tantalizing 
a feller,^’ said Budge. 

'^Yes,’^ added Jack, “youVe got us all 
keyed up to high pitch now, Alec; so take 
pity on us, and spin your little yarn, like a 
good fellow.’^ 

'^Just what I^m going to do, boys,’^ the 
newcomer went on to say. ^^WeVe been 
through a whole lot of odd happenings to- 
gether since first we got our motorcycles; 
but by the time you hear what we’re bound 
to try next, you’ll agree with me that it’s 
the queerest stunt of the whole bunch. And 
now, listen!” 


STORMBOUND 


33 


CHAPTER III 

MOTORCYCLE AGAINST TOURING CAR 

OR, Alec, and don^t you dare hold 
back another second,” exclaimed Budge, 
making a threatening fist of his chubby hand, 
and waving it before the eyes of the tanta- 
lizing one. 

What's your hurry. Budge?” asked Alec, 
seeing his chance to get back at the stout 
chum, don't you remember, Rome wasn't 
built in a day? Just hold in your horses; 
take things easy, like I do, and you'll grow 
fat. But, joking aside, boys, the queerest 
thing possible has just happened over at our 
house.” 

^^Yes?” the three others said in unison, as 
Alec paused to catch his breath. 

^^You remember a friend of my guardian 
stopped over with us last night. He was 
heading north in his car at the time, and left 
this morning. It never occurred to Mr. 
Worthington that he had forgotten to ask 
where he expected to stop tonight, until he 


31 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


suddenly ran across a very important paper 
that Judge Rollins must have dropped with- 
out knowing it. It is of the greatest impor- 
tance that he get it again as soon as possible. 
Mr. Worthington doesn’t know where he 
could get in touch with him inside of a week, 
and it will be too late then, for the option 
will have expired, and the judge stands to 
lose a big slice of his fortune. Are you fol- 
lowing me, boys?” 

^^Yo\i bet we are; go right along,” cried 
Freckles, whose eyes were really sparkling 
with excitement, as though he already scented 
the glorious proposal which the other was soon 
to put forward. 

^^When I saw how troubled Mr. Worth- 
ington was,” continued Alec, suddenly, 
just like that, I had an idea. The roads are 
good, the weather seems to promise to be fine 
yet awhile; now, what was to hinder me 
going on my motorcycle after Judge Rollins 
and tracking him along from village to vil- 
lage, finally overtake him, restore the paper, 
and then come back, after having a bully 
spin over a couple of hundred miles, it might 
be?” 

^^Wow! one of your brightest flashes, and 
that’s saying a good lot, Alec, because you’re 


STORMBOUND 


35 


always having Freckles declared with 

the air of sincerity that told how he meant 
every word of it. 

^^And of course, when you say that you 
could do this, it’s just the same as meaning 
three other fellows I could name go along with 
you?” suggested Jack, confidently. 

^^Well,” remarked Budge, ^^I’d like to 
see him proposing to leaye us in the lurch, 
when we’ve got a standin’ agreement to the 
effect that an injury to one is an injury to 
all; and that we share and share alike 
whether it be good or evil. Course it 
means we’re in the swim with Alec. He 
never could think anything else,” was the 
way Budge gave vent to his opinion. 

Alec seemed to wince a little, though he 
did not try to persuade Budge to change his 
mind — ^not just then, at any rate. 

Well, now that you get the idea how does 
it seem to strike you? ” he asked. 

think it would be a cracker jack of a 
run!” exclaimed Freckles. 

“And seems to me it would give us a good 
chance to air our knowledge of following a 
trail,” said Jack, who seemed greatly pleased 
with the idea. “It ought to be great fun 
figuring out just which way they would be 


36 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


most apt to turn whenever we come to a cross- 
roads, or where the pike forks. And think 
of the thousand-and-one questions we can 
fire at people, asking them if theyVe seen 
such and such a car pass by, how long since, 
bound which way, and so on. I give you my 
word for it, Alec, I like the idea first-rate.’’ 

‘^I’ve been reading up some more on that 
subject,” admitted Budge, cautiously, as he 
glanced first at Alec, and then at each of the 
others, as though wondering how they would 
take the fact, '^and let me tell you, it’s 
mighty interestin’, now. There’s w^ays to 
follow a trail even when it goes in and out of 
the water. And p’raps, if I had a chance 
1 might show you something I studied by 
heart.” 

Alec rubbed his chin, and then looked un- 
easily at Budge, giving the others a sly wink 
meanwhile, which put them wise to the fact 
that there was something up. 

^^Do you think it would be wise for you 
to undertake such a strenuous chase, Budge, 
heating up your blood, so soon after you’ve 
been seriously injured?” Alec asked, as a 
feeler. 

‘'But you’re mistaken, Alec; I ain’t hurt 
much at all. This here lot of plasters might 


STORMBOUND 


37 


make you think so, but it’s pretty much all 
a bluff. A few little scratches, that’s all. 
Who cares for them? Course I’m iu good 
trim for a warm spin ; never felt better in all 
my life. And you know, all of you do, that 
I’ve improved in my riding a hundred per 
cent since that time we went down to the 
Land of the Sky in North Carolina. I don ’t 
take near so many headers as I used to; 
and I always pick out a nice soft place to 
land in, don’t I, Freckles?” 

Thus directly appealed to, and in such a 
plaintive tone, the tall boy could not find 
it in his heart to deny the fact. 

just reckon, suh, that is what you do,” 
he went on, pretending to imitate one of the 
natives whom the motorcycle boys may have 
met in their visit to the Southland just men- 
tioned. Leastwise, I remember that the 
very last time you got pitched by your buck- 
ing motorcycle, you did drop into the muck 
bed of a marsh; and we had to pull you out 
by means of long poles. Wheel I c’n hear 
that squash when you lit, every time I think 
of it. And how the mud did fly!” 

‘'There, that settles it, Alec. Count me 
in when you make up the roster of them that 
are going on this new trip,” declared Budge, 


38 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


with the look on his face that stood for deter- 
mination and never-give-upness. ” 

^*But there’s one thing you forget, Budge, ” 
insinuated Freckles, who guessed how Alec 
would rather the fat rider did not try to keep 
along with the rest of the party on this par- 
ticular little dash, that promised to be a 
warm one. 

^^Oh! I know I’m always forgetting all 
sorts of things; but what is it now? Is my 
head sewed on straight? Have I got both 
my arms? Did I leave one of my feet behind 
me this time. Freckles?” asked the fat boy, 
in what was doubtless intended to be a sar- 
castic vein. 

^Ht’s Susie,” ventured the other. 

^^And you did promise to take her to that 
barn dance Friday night, for a fact; any way, 
you told us you had,” Jack went on to say, 
insinuatingly. 

But Budge was not to be moved. When 
he made up his mind to do anything, it was 
next to impossible to change him. 

^‘That’s all right,” he replied coolly, “and 
I hope yet that the expedition gets back in 
time for me to redeem my promise; but if we 
should be unexpectedly delayed, why, you 
see, I’ve got a good excuse in my present 


STORMBOUND 


39 


condition. I can stick a little more plaster 
on my knob, and when she sees how I look 
she’ll forgive me. When duty beckons a 
Clifford they never, never, back down. So 
just count on me helping to follow that trail. 
And since that point’s settled, and you can’t 
fease me from the stand I’ve taken, suppose 
you go on, Alec, and tell us what you know 
about the signs* because I guess you’ve been 
and found out some things before now, that’ll 
be mighty handy, when we’re trying to follow 
this Judge Rollins up.” 

Thank you. Budge, for thinking so well 
of me,” replied the other. 

^^And I guess, then, we’ll all just have to 
make the start,” remarked Freckles, who 
knew that would only make the fat boy more 
obstinate if they kept on trying to throw 
obstacles in his way. 

‘'What do you know about the judge and 
his car, Alec?” asked Jack. 

“Oh! I happened to take a look over the 
machine when he had it ready to leave this 
morning,” replied the one addressed. 

“And noticed a whole lot of little things. 
I’ll be bound,” ventured Freckles. 

“Well, a few,” returned Alec, smiling. 
“In the first place, he’s got a dandy big Alco 


40 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


car, one of the finest things I ever sat eyes 
on; and I reckon Judge Rollins never paid 
a cent less than six thousand for the same, 
when it was new. It’s in splendid condition 
even now, and he said he had it ever since the 
first Vanderbilt Cup race. But I noticed 
that a couple of the tires had been patched; 
and that he was carrying new ones to use 
in case either of these gave out while on the 
road. I guess they’re like motorcycle tires, 
and go off with a roar when there’s a bad 
puncture.” 

^'I’m on,” said Freckles, breaking in 
hastily, ^'you even went so far as to examine 
those tires, and notice what sort of a mark 
they’d be apt to make if ever they went 
through hard mud; how’s that, Alec, for a 
guess?” 

Right to the buUs-eye, for a fact, Freckles, 
because that’s just what I did do; and I 
found a couple of queer marks that you could 
tell like a flash, if ever you had half a chance. ” 

^^Bully for you, Alec!” exclaimed the de- 
lighted Budge. can see what a grand 
good time we’re going to have pretty soon 
when we get started on this run. Don’t 
I just wish it was tomorrow morning, right 
now. Yum! yum! Guess I wouldn’t lose 


STORMBOUND 


41 


this chance of being along for a big lot of 
cookies/’ 

After that nobody had the heart to try 
and convince the ambitious Budge that it 
was unwise for him to think of setting out 
with a group of hard riders, who were either 
bound to leave him far in the lurch, or else 
have their own speed considerably cut down 
by the fact that a chain is only as strong as 
its weakest link. And, indeed, it would not 
have done the least good, anyway. 

^^But it’s like looking for a needle in a 
haystack,” observed Alec, because, just 
now we haven’t the slightest idea which way 
Judge Rollins was heading, only that he 
mentioned having a little errand in Braiden- 
town.” 

^'That’s what they’d call a leading clue, 
ain’t it, Alec?” asked Budge. 

^‘Well, it’s a clue, and will take us that 
far without having to bother much with 
looking for the marked tire of the Alco car. 
Then, after we strike out from that town 
we’ll have to mark every mile as we run. If 
we suddenly miss the track we’ll go back 
again, and pick it up.” 

Still, I’d just like to wager that we’ll 


42 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


come up on the judge before we quit/' de- 
clared Freckles. 

“Will we?" echoed Budge, “well, I should 
say yes to that question^ Haven't we al- 
ways accomplished what we set out to do? 
Haven 't we climbed over all obstacles? Say 
tell me that, will you? Just as Freckles here 
says, though we seldom agree, as you may 
have noticed before now, we've been a mighty 
lucky bunch up to the present and generally 
managed to get there with both feet, rough- 
shod." 

“What shall we take along, Alec?" asked 
Jack. 

“Yes, will we have to put in the night out- 
doors, with only a camp fire to keep us from 
freezing?" demanded Freckles. 

“Don't forget that it hasn't been down to 
the freezing point six times since the frost 
nipped the leaves, and started the chestnuts 
to dropping," interrupted Budge, who often 
chose to be very exact in what he said, and 
was never known to tell a fish story. 

“Well, I 'm going to leave that pretty much 
to each one of the rest," Alec went on to say, 
“only it would not be wise to load ourselves 
down with a whole lot of things we wouldn 't 
be apt to need." 


STORMBOUND 


43 


^'Now, you’re giving me a sly dig when you 
say that, Alec; and there are two sillies just 
bubbling over with laughter. But I don ’t care 
a snap. I own up that I am inclined to lug 
along a lot more than is absolutely needed 
to keep a feller alive; but then the wheel 
carries the load, not me; and under those cir- 
cumstances, don’t you know that if a feller 
chooses to make a pack mule of himself, for 
the benefit of the whole bunch, why, he ought 
to be let alone, I think.” 

No one had a word to say. They knew 
only too well the generous, big-hearted nature 
of Budge; yes, he would perspire and grunt 
and stagger under a load; and when the time 
came for eating, it would be found that he 
had been doing all this hard work as a labor 
of love, and had carried a lot of stuff which 
he well knew happened to be particularly 
relished by his friends. He was utterly 
unselfish; and it could never be said of him 
that he thought of himseff first. 

^^Well,” said Freckles, sure hope you’ll 
have the good sense to leave that old banjo 
of yours behind. You insisted on taking it 
along a number of times, and it really makes 
me feel sick to hear you plunking away with 


44 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


your eyes shut, and trying to sing senti- 
mental songs by the light of the camp fire/’ 
That’s a subject you and me can never 
agree on, Freckles,” replied Budge with 
unusual dignity, for him, when a feller can ’t 
appreciate good music, why, nobody could 
pound it into him with a club. You’re the 
only one that ever made a big kick against 
my playing; and I’ve come to the conclusion 
that it’s just green jealousy with you. Alec 
hasn’t limited us to what we can take, and 
I’d thank you to leave me alone. For one 
thing, I’m sure going to carry th^t new 
sweater with me, and get it on the first thing 
when it feels cold. Do we want some grub 
along with us, Alec?” 

^^Yes,” replied the other, ^'we’d better, 
to make sure, because we don’t know where 
the trail may lead us. Before we get back 
to old Staunton again, we may pass thropgh 
some of the queerest adventures that ever 
came our way,” 

''The more the merrier,” sang out the 
reckless Freckles, who was always hoping for 
something to crop up, to break the dull mo- 
notony, being a nervous fellow. 

And accordingly, they started to discuss 
that important matter, for it is hard to find a 


STORMBOUND 


45 


boy who is not intensely interested in the 
question of what ought to be brought along 
for meals. 

Before the four boys separated that night 
they had laid out a little programme, by 
which each one was to be bound. Daylight 
would come in about half-past six, and four 
alarm clocks were to be set for six, so that 
they might gather at Alecks house in time to 
partake of the breakfast he would fix it up 
with the good-natured colored cook to have 
waiting for them. After that, when the 
light grew strong enough for them to see the 
road plainly, the bugle would sound the ad- 
vance, and immediately following, the merry 
popping of motors was going to announce 
that the Motorcycle Chums were once more 
in the saddle, starting out upon the road, and 
bent upon a mission that meant considerable 
to those who were most concerned. 

And four boys doubtless woke up on nu- 
merous occasions during that night, to consult 
the clocks, and then climb back, disappointed, 
into a warm bed. 


46 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


CHAPTER IV 

^'stop! you are in the grasp of the law!'' 

Thanks to the faithful warniug given out 
by the alarms of those same little nickel 
clocks, there was no hitch in the arrange- 
ments that morning. 

Even the usually late Budge turned up 
five minutes ahead of Jack and Freckles, 
greatly to the amusement of Alec. However, 
he could read between the lines, and under- 
stood that the fat boy was really concerned 
lest he be left behind, if he gave his chums 
any reasonable excuse for deserting him at 
the start. 

The breakfast was all that could be asked 
for, and even Budge admitted that he could 
think of no complaint. And afterwards 
the four motorcycles, polished up to look 
almost like new, and with every part in the 
best possible working order, were ranged out 
in the road, ready for the start. 

Mr. Worthington had arisen in time to 
wave them a goodbye, and wish them the 


STORMBOUND 


47 


very best of success in their mission. Then 
Alec led off, for a rule he was the acknowl- 
edged pacemaker of the quartette, and had 
studied the subject so thoroughly that he 
made a splendid success of the job. 

They knew the failings of Budge so well 
that they seldom thought of leaving him at 
the tail end of the procession. Sometimes 
he was sandwiched in between Alec and 
Jack; or else between the latter and Freckles, 
who liked to bring up the rear under the im- 
pression that next to being leader this thing 
of playing rear guard was the proper caper 
for an ambitious fellow. 

It had been before sun-up that the little 
noisy procession sped out of Staunton, and 
was on the way. 

Alec had figured the whole thing out for 
them on the preceding evening, and they knew 
just about where they might make their best 
gains. Besides going much faster, as a rule, 
than a gentleman of Mr. Rollins^ nature would 
think of driving his big touring Alco machine, 
there would be possibly two hours picked up 
in the early morning. Then the chances 
were that the traveler would get weary toward 
the middle of the afternoon, and quit at 
the first good chance of a decent inn. This 


48 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


happening on both days, would give them a 
fine opportunity to double up; so that there 
was really a fair chance of their overtaking 
the other before they gave up the run on this 
day. 

Of course this sort of figuring did not allow 
for serious accidents calculated to delay them 
any great length of time. 

Should anything of this kind happen, they 
would have to count on another day’s run, 
at least. 

Until they reached Braidentown, then, 
there was really no need of looking up the 
mark of the patched tire. After that, Alec 
knew they would have to depend to some 
extent on this, in order to successfully follow 
the touring car; though from time to time 
they might hope to pick up information from 
those who had seen the Alco pass. 

Alec knew, however, that such information 
is often very unreliable. Some of these 
country people were apt to take a strange 
delight in putting them on a wrong tack, just 
to see them come back later, and look ugly- 

Then again others might want to help so 
much, that they would even invent things in 
order to seem important; or else in hopes of 
a little tip of silver, always acceptable. And 


STORMBOUND 


49 


so Alec was determined to use his own judg- 
ment, and weigh all such information well 
in the balance before accepting the same. 
And there was a method of getting the in- 
formant to describe the touring car, without 
putting the words in his mouth. 

All went well for the start. The four ma- 
chines whirled merrily along the good road 
that led far away over the hills to Braiden- 
town. The boys knew the ground that far, 
as all of them had been over it many a time. 
Once they left the town, however, it would be 
new territory to them, and they must depend 
on the little road map which Alec had secured, 
or else their own common sense, to guide 
them further on their way. 

The motorcycles took the hills in fine shape, 
since they were in the pink of condition, with 
plenty of fuel, and lubricating oil aboard. 

The morning air was cool, but hardly cold; 
indeed one would believe that it must be 
early in October, only for the fact that the 
frost-touched leaves were all off the trees, 
save for the oaks, and a few others, where they 
cling for the better part of the winter, brown 
and stubborn, and unwilling to give up until 
the new ones start to pushing them off. 

Even Budge was feeling in great spirits. 


50 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


As a rule he did not enjoy these long runs 
quite as much as his three chums, and for 
numerous reasons. In the first place, 
he was hardly built for such energetic work, 
and felt the strain more than such a thin 
chap as Freckles, for instance. Then again, 
he was clumsy, and sitting for so many hours 
in such a cramped position was apt to tire 
him dreadfully; so there had been times when 
the others were forced to lift poor Budge from 
his seat after a particularly exhausting day’s 
work. 

Then, Budge was apt to meet with all 
sorts of trouble, most of them doubtless 
due to the fact of his own clumsiness. Lots 
of persons declared that the stout boy should 
never have taken to a swift motorcycle at all, 
and prophesied that sooner or later he would 
meet with a serious accident. But thus far 
he had escaped rather luckily; and that 
stubborn nature of his would not let him give 
up the fine sport just because a few silly 
people said it was dangerous. In fact, the 
way to get Budge to do anything at all, was 
to try and stop him; once he got a notion in 
his head that you objected to his trying a 
thing, and he would devote all his energies 


STORMBOUND 


51 


to the task of accomplishing the same, no 
matter at what cost. 

And properly directed this determination 
might yet prove to be the making of the boy 
som.e day. 

The boys knew that there was really only 
one good road out of Braidentown, and 
leading north. Accordingly, they did not 
even take the bother of asking anybody 
whether they had seen the big touring car 
pass. 

■They used their eyes while going through 
the little town, and presently were on the 
road beyond. Once free from observation 
Alec sounded his horn, and gave the well 
known signal that indicated an intended stop. 

Presently he had his three chums about 
him, all of them eager to know what was 
in the wind. 

'Tt’s about time we looked up the trail 
of the touring car, and made a note of the 
mark I told you about,'’ Alec was saying. 

He had already placed his machine in its 
stand so that he could leave it, but at one 
side of the road, so that if anything came 
along there was plenty of room to pass. 
Long experience when abroad had taught 
these motorcycle boys to be on the safe side 


52 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


wheiiever possible, aod take as few chances 
as they could. Trouble hunted them up 
often enough, without their going out of the 
way to find it. 

Before Alec had been looking a full minute 
he turned, and beckoned to the rest. 

Found it, have you?’^ asked Freckles, 
coming on the run. 

Let’s see what she looks like,” demanded 
Budge, bristling with importance. 

So Alec pointed down to the ground. The 
road was in pretty good shape, considering 
the time of year, and would take impressions 
well in spots. Here, where the touring car 
may have veered slightly to one side, no other 
vehicle had happened to cover the tracks of 
the tires, and the marks were plainly seen. 

Of course the patched tire was one of the 
rear ones, otherwise any singular formation 
could not have been noticeable; but there 
it was, plain as anything could be. The four 
boys studied the mark for a full minute. 

Think you’ll be able to pick it up again 
anywhere else?” asked Alec. 

^^Sure thing,” replied the confident Freck- 
les.” 

^^Why, that’s as easy as falling off a log,” 
asserted Budge. 


STORMBOUND 


53 


Jack o-nly nodded and smiled, though the 
chances were he had taken more careful 
notice of the patch than either of his over- 
confident chums; but then Jack was a quiet 
fellow, as a rule; one of the kind of whom 
they say that still waters run deep.’' 

^^Then there’s no use of our spending any 
more time here,” remarked the leader of the 
quartette, turning back to where the motor- 
cycles were standing. 

There comes the sun up,” said Budge, 
pointing to the east. ^^How far do you ex- 
pect we are on our way, Alec?” 

'^Oh! Braidentown is about sixteen miles 
from Staunton, I believe,” was the reply. 

From now they might expect to keep con- 
stantly on the watch, so as not to be caught 
napping. Whenever they came to a fork of 
the road it would be necessary to make a halt, 
in order to find out which way the touring 
car went. 

Strange to say, it was Budge who grumbled 
most about these little delays. He had 
his mad speed cap on this morning, surely; 
and the others hardly knew what to make 
of their chum, usually quite satisfied to be 
dragged along, by threats of being left in 
the lurch. 


54 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


An hour later, and they were booming 
along quite merrily. The sun was well up, 
and somehow felt quite agreeable. There 
was actually a little dust on the road, a most 
unusual thing in December, when one would 
expect a foot of snow, at least. 

The other boys had eyed Budge’s mount 
suspiciously when he showed up early that 
morning; but then they always expected to 
find him well weighted down with all manner 
of things, until people must think he repre- 
sented a new type of itinerant peddler. 
Freckles, in particular, eyed the various 
mysterious packages, and from time to time 
shook his head, and muttered something 
to himself about the ways of some people 
that were past finding out. Perhaps he even 
suspected that Budge had hidden that ob- 
jectionable banjo somewhere about in those 
bundles, and was going to spring it on them 
at some unexpected moment. 

Now, there was not anything so very 
dreadful about the musical aspirations of the 
fat boy; and Freckles only kept up this 
badinage because he saw that Budge was 
touchy in connection with the subject. Alec 
and Jack had nothing to say, and often really 
enjoyed seeing Budge warbling away, with 


STORMBOUND 


55 


his eyes dreamily closed, aod resting in the 
full belief that he was singing like a Caruso, 
as he picked at the strings of his pet banjo. 

Still another hour had passed, and they 
were doing finely. At the last stop the mark 
of the patched rear tire had been plainly 
seen, so that the boys knew they were still 
on the right track. Why, even Budge had 
declared that this was as easy a job as they 
had ever attempted to carry out. 

They were spinning along at a pretty good 
speed, though Alec knew they must cut this 
down presently, as he had discovered indica- 
tions that there was some sort of a town ahead, 
which they would either pass through or 
skirt. 

These good intentions, it seemed, came just 
a little too late. Alec was even in the act 
of reaching for his horn, to give the “slow- 
up’^ signal, when he was astonished and 
disgusted to see a man suddenly spring out 
in the middle of the road some distance 
ahead, wildly brandishing his arms, and then 
putting what seemed to be a megaphone to his 
mouth, shouting at the top of his voice the 
words : 

'^Stop! You are in the grasp of the Law!^^ 


56 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


CHAPTER V 

UP AGAINST IT, GOOD AND HARD 

It was a speed trap! 

Alec knew this just as soon as he saw that 
man waving his arm so wildly; while the 
words shouted through the megaphone added 
to his conviction. 

Well, they were certainly fairly caught, 
because the country constable had iu some 
manner managed to drop a long beam across 
the road, so that they could not pass by. 
He certainly must have become possessed 
of a mania to increase the revenues of his 
town, at the expense of passing tourists 
who, never dreaming that they were within 
the limits of the corporation, since even the 
church spire seemed some ways ojff, were 
pretty sure to be caught napping. 

And no doubt this wideawake officer of 
the law was fortified with all the documents 
necessary to prove that they must appear 
before a justice, and settle according to the 


STORMBOUND 


57 


statutes of the commuuity, for speeding 
within the town limits. 

Perhaps his activity would be explained 
if the fact were known that half the fine went 
to the officer making the arrest. 

Alec was quick to act. 

He knew there was no passing that alert 
sentinel, and especially since he had suc- 
ceeded in dropping that stout pole across 
the road, effectually barring it. 

Accordingly Alec gave the usual blast on 
his bugle to warn his comrades coming spin- 
ning along in the rear that they must slow 
up, and be ready to stop short. And im- 
mediately afterwards he shut off power, pre- 
paring at the same time to put on the brake 
if there should be any danger of his crashing 
into that obstruction. 

Meanwhile the country constable was jump- 
ing about like a mannikin, waving a big pistol 
in one hand, and the megaphone in the other. 

Alec looked at him, and felt like rubbing 
his eyes, because the fellow was just as he 
had seen his class represented in moving 
pictures — a lanky chap, with his trousers 
thrust into his boot-tops, wearing a long coat 
because he doubtless imagined that would 
add dignity to his appearance, and with a 


58 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


peaked cap that gave him a rather sinister 
look. 

^^Pull up, every blisterin’ one of ye!” he 
kept on shouting, while he danced about, 
waving that old weapon in a menacing man- 
ner. got wind of yuh coming along like 
mad ten miles below hyah. Think yuh own 
the hull kentry, I guess. Well, we ’re on to the 
likes of yuh up hyah ; and we feels as hao w yuh 
ought to help us pay for the roads yuh ride 
over. Twenty-five apiece, it’ll be when yuh 
gits before the Squire. Look out, yuh fatty 
haow yuh ruh in tew me. Consider yerselves 
all under arrest. I represent the dignity of 
the Law.” 

He pointed with considerable pride to his 
bright nickel badge which was fastened on 
the left breast of the frock coat that had seen 
its best days many years ago. 

This was a time for quick thinking on the 
part of Alec, if he hoped to pull out of the 
distressing situation without considerable loss 
of time. 

What’s all this mean?” exclaimed the 
blustering Freckles. You’ve got a heap of 
nerve. Mister, to hold up a party of quiet 
motor boys out for a little spin. What 
have we been doing, I’d like to know, to 


STORMBOUND 


59 


bother you and your old town, that we ain't 
never seen even?" 

The officious constable thereupon pulled 
out a great big silver watch that looked as 
though it might be used to time the races 
at the county fair, which was possibly its 
true function ; but the owner had discovered 
a more profitable use to put it to, and was 
doubtless getting rich fast, at the expense of 
those tourists who from time to time came 
up this way. 

Speed limit is ten miles an hour inside 
the corporation limits of Squashville. You 
was goin' at jest thirty-seven when yuh hit 
the line, an ' twenty-six when I gives yuh the 
call down. No use makin' a kick, 'cause I 
got it all down fine, and never lost a case 
befoah the Squire yet. Four o' ye, at twenty- 
five apiece makes an even hundred. Purty 
good mornin' work, I guess, for me." 

He grinned as though pleased. No doubt 
he was already fingering his share of the 
spoils. And yet they talk about those high- 
waymen who used to hold up travelers on 
Hounslow Heath over near London years upon 
years ago; they took chances, whereas the 
modern stand and deliver man" has the 
law back of him. 


60 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


Alec knew that unless they could bribe 
this constable to let them go on, they were 
due to meet with a tedious stop that would 
play havoc with all their plans. He would 
march them into town, and perhaps insist 
upon their being locked up, to await the 
pleasure of the Squire, who might not con- 
vene his court and be ready to sit upon their 
case for some hours. 

It was exasperating to say the least. The 
money part of it was bad enough; but that 
was not the worst; for doubtless Mr. Sands 
upon recovering those valuable papery would 
be only too glad to make the fine good; and 
even if he did not, the treasury of the Motor- 
cycle Club was able to stand a few drains 
like that without feeling it. 

So Alec, like a wise general, while preparing 
for open hostilities, started in to see whether 
he could not soften the hard heart of the 
speed trap fiend, who undoubtedly had a 
mania for this sort of work, and hated motor- 
ists of all stripes. 

Putting on his best smile, therefore, Alec 
approached the angular constable. 

'^Hi! keep back thar, you!’’ roared the 
man suspiciously, as he waved that gun of 
his menacingly. “I’m on to your tricks, and 


STORMBOUND 


61 


I don’t let yuh come within arms’ length, 
if I knows it. Say what yuh got to say, and 
do it quick, too. Talkin’ ain’t goin’ tuh do 
yuh any good, tell yuh that in the start. I 
cort yuh in the act — ^twenty-six miles an hour 
sense yuh crossed the town limits. Now 
what? ” 

^^My friend, you look like a sensible man,” 
began Alec, when the constable stopped him 
with a threatening movement, and what he 
was doubtless pleased to consider a frown of 
authority. 

^^None o’ that soft-soap business, boy!” 
he exclaimed in his cracked voice. ^^Jest 
make up yer mind that I ain’t a sensible 
man; I’m a constable, duly app’inted by 
the Justice, and here’s my badge o’ authority 
as represents the Majesty of the Law.” 

^^Oh!” said Alec, beg your pardon, I 
must have made a mistake; but would you 
please tell me whether you held up a big 
touring car yesterday that must have passed 
through here. It held a single gentleman 
and his chauffeur. The owner was a little 
man, with side whiskers, and a very high 
voice. The car was a three-year-old pattern 
of an Alco, but he had had it touched up with 
the white streak along the top of the body 


62 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


that marks the later cars of that make. Then 
you do remember it, Mr. Constable; I can 
see from your smile that it passed along 
here; and perhaps now you extracted a 
twenty-five spot from Judge Rollins, whom 
we have been sent to overtake in order to 
restore a valuable paper which he left behind 
him at my guardian’s house in Staunton.” 

^^Yes, I had the pleasure o’ stopping that 
same car, if it’ll dew yuh any good tuh know 
it, younker. The leetle gent was the maddest 
I seed this long while; sez he was a-goin’ tuh 
test the right of any little one-hoss village 
to lay a trap to ketch tourists, and yank ’em 
afore a Squire, to be fined at will. But 
mark me, he had tuh go, all the same; an’ 
he ponied up double price, on the additional 
charge of resistin’ an officer in the discharge 
o’ his duty.” 

He slapped his pocket when making this 
proud boast, just as if to proclaim that his 
share of the fine had found a restingplace 
where it would do him the most good. 

^Ht’s plain to be seen,” remarked Alec, 
^Hhat you are a most efficient officer, and 
doubtless the terror of your speed traps is 
extending far and wide; but in our case 
perhaps you might be tempted to accept 


STORMBOUND 


63 


a little present and let us go on. It is of the 
utmost importance that we overtake that 
touring car before we stop tonight, and as 
it had a day^s start of us, you can see we Ve 
just got to hustle, or own up beat. We’re 
not racing at all, and you could salve your 
conscience, I am sure, by looking on it just 
as you would the haste of a doctor to get to 
his patient. The law recognizes his need of 
haste, and it protects him. There must be 
exceptions to every rule; and it seems to 
me this might be such a case. ” 

Alec saw that his little scheme did not 
promise any good results, before he had half 
finished speaking. The angular constable 
drew himself up, and assumed a highly in- 
sulted attitude, with his chin thrust out 
belligerently. 

^^Stop right thar, young feller!” he ex- 
claimed, with a great flourish of the hand, 
that held the megaphone. Yuh forget that 
it means a double fine for tryin’ to bribe an 
officer in the discharge o’ his duty. I ain’t 
tuh be corrupted. Arsk anybody thet lives 
within ten miles o’ Squash ville, an’ they’ll 
tell yuh Josh Slocum is as honest as the 
day is long. And now, arter I’ve sot my 
trap again, I reckons we’ll perceed to town, 


64 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


single file. And jest remember that I got 
the Law back o’ me, an’ if yuh ’tempts tuh 
’scape I’ll bust the tire o’ yer machine fust; 
an’ ef thet don ’t bring yuh tuh a stop, p’raps 
I’ll be tempted tuh wing yuh in the leg. So 
be warned in time, and perceed accordingly.” 

Now Alec did not mean to go like a lamb 
to the slaughter, unless he could not pos- 
sibly help it. He felt that this was a wholly 
unnecessary proceeding on the part of the 
country constable, and entered into simply 
to get money for himself and the Squire, 
with the town a poor third. This road did 
not really pass directly through Squashville, 
but skirted the place; and even though a 
motorcycle might be going at twenty miles 
an hour, there was really no danger of any 
one being injured thereby. 

Alec was very much aroused. He looked 
upon that rawboned constable, who had all 
the earmarks of the stage species, though he 
was real enough, as a typical leech, out to 
make a fat living off unfortunate tourists who 
did not dream that they were near a town, 
and could be easily trapped. 

And thinking thus, the boy felt that he 
would be within his rights in trying to baffle 
this hold-up game, if it could possibly be done. 


STORMBOUND 


65 


Now, there had always been a little code 
of signals understood between the four chums, 
by means of which they were able to com- 
municate without uttering a single word. 
They had found this understanding very 
convenient on numerous occasions in the 
past. More than once it had been the means 
of saving them from serious entanglements, 
and proved one of the best things Alec had 
ever gotten up. 

So now he gave each of his three chums 
the secret sign, which consisted of two winks, 
first with the right eye, and then the left, 
that told them what his intentions were; and 
that each of them was to manage somehow to 
place himself in a position to jump on the 
constable when he gave another signal. 

Meanwhile Josh Slocum had stepped back 
a pace, and by means of a little windlass he 
had cleverly constructed, raised the pole from 
across the road. That gave them a clear 
track, could they make sure that the con- 
stable would not be able to make use of that 
ugly pistol he carried, and which was really 
one of those old navy revolvers in use in 
Civil War times. 

^^Naow, fall in line, yeou fellers, and for- 
ward march tuh town. Jest remember as 


66 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


haow I^m keeping yuh under my eagle eye, 
an’ if yuh tries tuh jump me it’s goin’ tub be 
the wust thing yuh ever did. I ’m considered 
a very dangerous man tuh tackle I gives yuh 
fair warnin’. Git along with yuh, naow!” 

It was evidently the constable’s hour of 
triumph, and he was enjoying himseK hugely. 
But his wings were fated to be soon clipped. 
Alec had seen a splendid opportunity to 
bridge over the chasm, and was quick to take 
advantage of it. 

The rope connected with the tackle which 
hauled the heavy pole into an upright position 
chanced to be lying just on the other side 
of the tall constable’s feet. One end was 
within reach of Alec, who, by pretending to 
stoop down, as he held on to his wheel, could 
suddenly grasp hold of it. 

This he did without a second’s warning, 
and gave the rope a jerk with all his might. 
The coil flew up, caught against the shins 
of the lanky constable, and in a flash his 
heels went up in the air, the megaphone fly- 
ing one way, and the ugly firearm another, 
while he landed on his back with a heavy 
thud. 

Jack and Freckles had been quick to see 
what was coming. The way they dropped 


STORMBOUND 


67 


their motorcycles, and leaped upon the con- 
stable, was worth while seeing. And thus in 
a twinkling the situation was exactly reversed; 
for Budge had raced after both the pistol 
and the megaphone, and was bringing them 
to Alec, with a grin of satisfaction and pride 
on his rosy face, as though it tickled him im- 
mensely to know that after all he had had 
a hand in the little circus. 


68 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


CHAPTER VI 

THE BITER BITTEN 

^^Let him get up, boys!^^ said Alec, as soon 
as he had possession of the dangerous weapon. 

“Yes,” added Budge, swelling out with 
importance, “we’re ready for him now. 
We’ve drawn his teeth, all right, you notice!” 

Accordingly Jack and Freckles gave a 
spring and were back at their machines, over 
which they bent with some solicitude, to make 
sure no damage had been done when they 
were so hastily dropped. 

Growling awfully the lanky country con- 
stable managed to scramble to his feet. He 
was as black as a thundercloud, because never 
before had he been caught napping by any 
of the unfortunate drivers of cars which he 
had stopped with his clever little speed trap; 
and to think that after all he had been out- 
witted by a parcel of haK-grown boys made it 
all the worse. 

As soon, therefore, as he had gained his feet, 
he started to rush the boys. 


STORMBOUND 


69 


^'Stop right where you are, or I won’t 
aaswer for the consequences!” shouted Alec; 
and there was such a world of naenace in his 
voice that somehow the angry man did halt 
in his tracks. 

^‘Hi! what d’ye mean a-threatenin’ an officer 
in the discharge o’ his juty?” he stammered. 
^^Doan’t yuh know as haow yuh make yer- 
self liable tuh a heavy fine and imprisonment 
by thet ere act? Put daown thet gun, boy 
when I tells yuh!” 

He might as well have been talking to the 
wind, for Alec did not give the first sign of 
meaning to obey this order. 

'^Now, keep cool, Mr. Officer,” said Freck- 
les, *^and we won’t hurt you; but if you try 
any of your funny business on us, you’re 
liable to go back to town hopping on one leg. 
You don ’t get any fine out of this crowd after 
the way you treated us. We told you only 
the truth, and that it was mighty important 
for us to overtake that touring car. We 
offered you the fine we’d have to pay, just 
to let us get away without losing any time, 
and you spurned it; not because you was 
above taking a bribe, oh! no, but just I guess 
you felt that we might tell about it later on, 
and the good people of this hold-up town 


70 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


would know you for what you are, a grafter. 
That’ll do for you, Mr. Josh Slocum; go 
away back, and sit down!” 

The badgered constable seemed to have lost 
considerable of his prancing ways. He no 
longer jumped around like an animated 
rooster, crowing over his beaten foe. In 
fact, as he stared first at Freckles, then each 
of the other boys in turn, and ending up with 
Alec, covering him so neatly with that 
enormous weapon, he seemed to shrivel up 
considerably, and when he said ^^by heck!” 
it was in a subdued tone of voice. 

“Just turn around and walk along the road 
a little ways. Officer,” commanded Alec, 
waving his weapon to indicate the direction 
meant. 

“What yuh a-goin’ tuh do with me?” 
asked the other, looking a bit worried, as if 
he had begun to fear lest they should march 
him into town that way, and wind up his 
usefulness as an Officer of the Law. 

“Walk along till you get to that leaning 
tree; then you can stop,” continued Alec, 
“by that time we’ll all be off, and you won’t 
have a chance to play a second trick on us.” 

“But say, yuh ain’t a-meanin’ tuh rob me 
o’ my gun, be yuh?” pleaded the constable. 


STORMBOXJND 


71 


said the motorcycle boy, easily, ^'if 
you follow along the road after we're off, 
you'l find it easy enough. I wouldn't like 
to be caught with such a cannon about me 
nut for a good deal. Now, move along, and 
be quick about it. And after this, listen to 
reason when some one tells you a hard-luck 
story. It would have paid you to have 
taken up our offer." 

^'Wisht I had, an' if it ain't too late naow, 

mister " began the repentant constable, 

when Alec interrupted him by saying: 

^^It's all off, and we're going to play the 
game to suit our own hand. Get ready boys, 
for a flying start* I'll bring up the rear for a 
little while," and Alec waved his hand to his 
chums as he spoke in this manner. 

He saw the constable, after reaching the 
tree mentioned, quickly turned and watched 
every movement he made. And Alec knew 
that the fellow was hoping still that some 
little slip in the arrangements might allow 
him to recover possession of his weapon, in 
time to hold at least the leader of the auda- 
cious quartette who had snapped their fingers 
at the stern Majesty of the Law, his shining 
nickel badge of authority represented. 


72 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


But Alec did not mean that there should 
be any slip. 

One by one his chums got off, and now it 
was Alecks turn. He was astride his machine, 
since it was no longer necessary for them to 
make the little run that used to be the rule 
with all motorcycle riders when starting. 
When both his hands were engaged, and he 
had thrust the big revolver in his belt tem- 
porarily, he saw the constable start on a rush 
toward him. 

Then, with a loud laugh, Alec was away, 
his motor sending back derisive snorting 
sounds as if to exult over the baffled con- 
stable. The man, realizing that he could 
never hope to overtake the swift pacer, 
presently came to a stop, and forming his 
hands into a cup to take the place of his 
megaphone, he bawled lustily: 

^^Jest yuh wait, an’ I’ll make it hot enuff 
for yuh when cornin’ back this way!” 

But this threat had no terrors for the boy, 
since he had already decided that they would 
give Squash ville a wide berth on their return, 
even if they had to cover twenty additional 
miles to do so. And doubtless, in due time 
this policy of trapping tourists would cause 
every car to shun the town, which in the long 


STORMBOUND 


73 


run would lose many times the amount of 
money gained through fines. 

HaK a mile further on Alec, true to his 
promise, dropped the big pistol where Josh 
Slocum could recover it; though he really 
felt that he would be justified in hurling the 
weapon into the brush alongside the road. 

He came upon the rest of the party a few 
miles further on. They had stopped at a fork 
in the road, not knowing which way they 
ought to follow, and wishing Alec to glimpse 
the mark of the patched tire, so as to make 
sure they were right. 

This he quickly did, and they started again, 
with Alec now in the lead as pacemaker. 
Budge was brimming over with excitement, 
and wanted to talk about their recent adven- 
ture, which seemed to have filled him with 
unwonted glee; but this could not be done 
without a waste of time; and in their present 
desire to make haste such a thing was not to 
be considered for a moment. 

At the next village they made inquiries 
about the 'Triend’’ they were following, and 
were gratified to learn that the car with the 
white streak along the upper edge of the body 
had passed through about two o’clock on the 
preceding afternoon. 


74 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


As it was now not yet eleven they realized 
that they were doing finely, with good pros- 
pects of overtaking Judge Rollins some time 
that evening, should all go well, and no other 
road trap be sprung unexpected upon them, 
to consume precious time, as well as reduce 
their supply of cash. 

When it came noon they were beginning 
to get hungry, after having had such an early 
breakfast; but for some reason Alec kept 
right along. Budge called out several times 
to ask what they expected to do about it; 
but somehow no one seemed to be taking the 
least interest in dining save himself, for they 
did not answer his appeals. 

Had the others been close enough for con- 
versation no doubt Budge might have waxed 
eloquent on the subject of the great harm 
that comes from going without a regular meal, 
when all your life you have been accustomed 
to such a thing. As it was, Budge was be- 
tween the two mill stones; he had to either 
go on, and forget that his stomach was fairly 
clamoring for a supply of food; or else drop 
out, and let his four chums keep up the run 
without him; and Budge was so set upon 
keeping them company to the bitter end, that 
he would even sacrifice a meal if necessary, 


STORMBOUND 


75 


though it did come hard on a poor fellow. 

One o’clock, and Budge was groaning with 
every mile they skimmed over, up-hill and 
down. Once he dropped back until he could 
shout to Freckles; but he received poor con- 
solation from that worthy, who declared that 
Alec was setting the pace, and therefore the 
rest of them could not object; though perhaps 
Alec many have seen a tavern marked on his 
road map as a good place for tourists to stop 
in order to get dinner; and that was why he 
kept on hitting up the pace in such a steady 
way. 

“Oh! I hope that’s what it means!” was 
what Budge told himself, as he once more 
started to regain the position he knew he 
was expected to keep, half-way between Jack 
and the tail-ender, so as to better avoid any 
sort of collision. 

Ten minutes more, and the anxious eyes of 
Budge detected signs of a coming town, which 
made him indulge in renewed hope. Oh! 
if Alec would only feel the pangs of hunger 
just as he did, how quickly would he decide 
to stop for half an hour, and pick up a good 
dinner. 

Yes, he was slackening his terrific speed 
even now, and there seemed to be some little 


76 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


hope in that. How eagerly was Budge strain- 
ing his ears to catch the welcome notes of that 
little bugle which the pacemaker carried, 
and which would proclaim the glad tidings 
that they were to take a rest. He was be- 
ginning to wobble a little in his saddle, and 
just knew that he could not hold out much 
longer unless the inner man was fortified with 
a substantial meal. 

Now they were beginning to enter the out- 
skirts of what seemed to be some place of fair 
importance, which must be marked on Alec’s 
road map. 

And just when Budge was beginning to 
groan again, thinking because they had passed 
one hotel, that Alec was only tantalizing him, 
he heard the most delightful of all sounds — 
the sweet notes of the bugle announcing a 
halt. 

One-fifteen, and all was well, with dinner 
in prospect; no wonder, then, the motorcycle 
boys felt that they had reason to congratulate 
themselves. 


STORMBOUND 


77 


CHAPTER VII 

PICKING UP INFORMATION 

**We ought to find out something here 
about Judge Rollins/^ said Alec, as his three 
chums came up, one by one, and dismounted 
from their machines; though Budge was so 
stiff that he managed to ‘^fall all over him- 
seK^^ as Freckles called it, and only kept 
his heavy motorcycle from smashing down 
on top of him by next door to a miracle. 

'^Oh! but ain’t we going to dine here too, 
Alec?” pleaded the fat boy, turning a be- 
seeching face on the leader, as though he 
would beg of him to consider that in order 
to keep up such terrific riding it was neces- 
sary to take nourishment. 

^^Yes, we’ll see if we can get dinner, I 
guess. Budge,” came the welcome reply. 

'^Good for you, Alec!” cried the anxious 
Budge. ^^I thought you wouldn’t keep me 
away from my regular meal much longer. 
Course I expected that you knew about an 
extra good place to eat at, and was hitting 


78 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


up the pace to get there. Say, but we did 
come aloug at a corking fast rate, the last 
half-hour. Seemed to me I’d gone and 
grown a pair of wings, and was just flying. 
Lucky the road was as good as it turned out 
to be.” 

“If it had been anything else I wouldn’t 
have led you on that way,” Alec observed, 
quietly. “We take chances enough without 
racing over a bad stretch of road. But let’s 
stand our wheels over here, where they’ll 
be out of the way, and go in to see about 
dinner.” 

And from the quick way in which Jack and 
Freckles managed to get their motorcycles 
“stood up” before Budge was able to accom- 
plish the same feat, it looked as if there might 
be other hungry fellows in the party besides 
the fat boy, even if they had a faculty for 
hiding the fact. 

Just at the door of the taproom they met 
the proprietor of the tavern, which on the 
chart possessed by Alec was marked as a very 
good road-house, where especial pains were 
taken to serve travelers. And having such 
a sponsor back of him was the finest adver- 
tisement the proprietor of the place could ever 


STORMBOUND 


79 


dream of possessing, for it brought him con- 
siderable custom. 

Why there were two cars in the yard right 
then, and as soon as the boys got in the dining- 
room they found the occupants still at the 
table, and evidently enjoying the meal set 
before them. 

Alec hurried a little more than he would 
have done under ordinary conditions; for he 
wanted a chance to speak with the tavern- 
keeper while Budge was finishing, because 
they could not expect such a hearty eater 
to get through as soon as the others. 

^^Take another five minutes or so, boys,’^ 
AJec remarked, as later on he arose to pass 
out, want to buzz the proprietor a little, 
so don ^t be in too big a hurry. If you hang 
out too long. 111 give the jump signal. ’’ 

So saying he left them still gorging, as 
though they thought they had better lay in a 
good supply, since no one could say where 
or when they would be able to get their next 
meal. 

AJec found the proprietor in the taproom, 
and quickly settled for the dinners of the 
party. 

“I imagine that you hardly have a day 
pass without one or more cars stopping here 


80 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


for meals?” he remarked, to break the ice, 
and open up a little talk-fest that might prove 
profitable to him in the end. 

That ’s right, son ; and sometimes as many 
as four cars can be seen parked out in the 
wagon-yard that used to be. They seem to 
like what they get here, and tell all their 
friends, I have the same people come again 
and again. Some of ’em ride twenty miles 
out of their way just to dine here.” 

The hotel man evidently took considerable 
pride in this fact, nor did Alec beheve that 
he was overstating the truth in what he said. 

That’s the best way to succeed in such a 
business, I should think,” he remarked. 
“And by the way, a friend of ours is some- 
where ahead of us, and we’re trying to over- 
take him if we can. He is in a touring car 
that has a white rim around the upper part of 
the body, and his name is Judge Rollins, a 
small man, rather excitable. Perhaps you 
remember seeing him, because he must have 
passed along this way yesterday afternoon.^’ 

The innkeeper smiled, and nodded his 
head, as he replied: 

“He was here, all right, and as you say, 
seemed a sort of excitable little gentleman, 
from the way he railed at some fool country 


STORMBOUND 


81 


sheriff who laid a speed trap for him along the 
road, hauled him before a Squire, and then 
struck him for fifty dollars, half of it for 
violating the speed ordinance of the town, 
and the rest for resisting an ofiScer of the law 
in the discharge of his sworn duty/^ 

“Yes, we ran across that same constable, 
and he stopped us with a long pole he had a 
way of throwing across the road, just like they 
do at toU-gates,” Alec went on to say. 

“Then it cost you twenty-five apiece, did 
it?’' asked the other, with a grin. 

“Not one cent,” answered the leader of the 
motorcycle club. 

“How did that come?” demanded the 
tavern keeper, curiosity gripping him. 

“Well, we thought he was overdoing it 
when he refused to take the money for the 
fine, and let us hurry along, after we told him 
how important it was that we catch up with 
the touring car by night time; so we tripped 
him up, took his pistol away, and left him 
behind when we made a fresh start.” 

That account put the hotel man in a good 
humor, as Alec had anticipated it would, 
which was one reason he had for telhng the 
story of their adventure with the road-speed 
trap officer. 


82 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


Would you mind telling me when Judge 
Rollins left your place?’’ he asked, quietly. 

^^Well, I think it was about nine o’clock,” 
came the reply. 

‘^Last night?” Alec went on, puzzled to 
account for such an unexpected answer. 

^^Oh! no, this morning,” the tavern-keeper 
remarked, pleasantly; just as though it might 
be the customary thing for a tourist stopping 
late in the afternoon to be unable to tear 
himself away in a hurry from a house where 
he was served such good meals. 

That pleased Alec very much. Here it 
was not much more than half-past one, and 
yet they had managed to cover all the ground 
which the gentleman in the big touring car 
had done on the entire preceding day. If 
that ratio could only be maintained they 
ought surely overtake him before stopping 
for the next night. 

^^Oh! then he spent the night with you, did 
he?” he went on to say. “And when he 
left this morning I suppose he kept right along, 
headed into the north— did you happen to 
notice that, sir?” 

“Yes, I chanced to be standing outside at 
the time, and said goodbye to Judge RoUins. 
He certain took the road leading north from 


STORMBOUND 


83 


here; and that was what I told the other gent 
not more’n an hour back.^^ 

Alec pricked up his ears at hearing this, 
don’t quite understand what you mean 
by that?” he remarked. 

^^Why, you see, there was another car come 
along, a regular speed-eater, I guess, from 
her looks, with a gentleman all alone in the 
same. I don’t know what he was like, for 
he never took off his goggles while he was 
a-talkin’ with me. But he asked about that 
car with the white streak on the body, just 
like you done; and said as how Judge Rollins 
was a very dear friend of his’n, and that 
he wanted to overtake him as quick as he 
could, because it was mighty important. He 
threw me a dollar bill for just one drink, and 
told me to keep the change. ” 

^^And then he went off along the same road 
as Judge Rollins, did he?” said Alec, who 
was feeling not a little bewildered by this new 
and entirely unanticipated development in 
the case; for he could not give the first guess 
as to the identity of the unknown driver of 
the racing car in pursuit of Judge Rollins. 

‘^The last I saw was a cloud of dust up that 
way, and I reckon he was hitting it up nigh 
on fifty an hour, if he was five. That car 


84 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


was built for the motordome and not for 
touring it on the road. It was low, and 
looked like a ram. Why, honest now, when 
I got to thinking about it later on, I kind of 
had a little cold creep over me. Seemed 
like it might be a sort of road pirate a-drivin^ 
that car; but he met his match in that same 
country constable, for he said he was held 
up, and had to pay over his little fine, as well 
as lose a valuable hour besides. 

It was only natural that Alec should laugh 
when he heard this. 

‘^That same country constable is sure a 
corker, when it comes to holding folks up,’^ 
he remarked. 

^'But he met his match when you boys 
came along, seems like,” added the landlord, 
meaningly. 

^‘The odds were too much for him, I guess, ” 
said Alec, ‘^four to one you know; and it^s 
pretty hard work keeping tab on four active 
fellows all at the same time. But I'm much 
obliged to you for the information you've 
given me.” 

‘^Then you ain't any idee who the man in 
the little racing machine was?” questioned 
the other, evidently rather curious himself 
to know the identity of the party who had 


STORMBOUND 


85 


scorned to take change from a dollar bill, and 
acted as though he considered the informa- 
tion received more than worth the difference. 

“I don’t know of anybody that owns such 
a car,” replied the boy, ^^but then Judge 
Rollins has lots of friends, of course, and this 
may be some one he knows very well. But 
here come my chums; and we’ll be on the 
move again.” 

‘^You’ll have to do some tall hustling, son, 
if you expect to catch up with Judge Rollins 
before sundown,” ventured the innkeeper, 
as the four motorcycle boys began to get 
their machines ready for action. 

“If the roads keep as decent as we’ve 
found them so far, and nothing happens to 
delay us, we have hopes of doing that same,” 
Alec declared. 

In three minutes more they were streaking 
it quietly out of town, following in regular 
order, with Alec making the pace again, 
and Freckles guarding the rear, after his 
usual custom. 

What the innkeeper had so casually let 
fall regarding that mysterious stranger gave 
Alec considerable cause for thought. He 
could not for the life of him guess who the 
party could be. Certainly it was no one who 


86 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


had passed them on the road, or they would 
have remembered the car* which, according 
to the statement of the hotel man, was so 
peculiar in its construction that it must have 
attracted their attention. 

He evidently knew that Judge Rollins 
was making this trip; and was doing every- 
thing in his power to overtake the gentleman, 
possibly with the idea of having an interview 
with him. 

And as they reeled off the miles in system- 
atic order, Alec allowed his thoughts to roam 
back to these things, wondering meanwhile 
whether they would ever know the identity 
of this party in the racer, what his business 
in pursuing Judge Rollins so determinedly 
might be; and a lot of other things that just 
came trooping along in their train. 

It was possibly an hour later that he was 
aroused by hearing a loud whoop from the 
rear, that, according to their coee of signals, 
meant trouble. 


STORMBOUND 


87 


CHAPTER VIII 

BUDGE FALLS INTO OLD WAYS 

No sooner had Alec caught that sound of 
woe than he shut off power, and applied the 
brake. There was no space in which to turn, 
so that after coining to a full stop he had to 
jump off and turning his heavy motorcycle 
around, once more start back again. 

All this took a minute or more of time; 
but once he got underway he quickly arrived 
at the scene of the trouble. He felt nervous 
when hurrying back, not knowing but what 
a serious accident had happened; and when- 
ever Budge was along, his three mates were 
always more or less concerned about his wel- 
fare, since he had such a faculty for getting 
into all sorts of scrapes. 

As soon as he glimpsed the picture Alec 
knew what had happened. The other two 
were doing the same old stunt that had been 
enacted several times in the past — Whelping 
Budge to crawl out of a bed of muck that 
bordered a marsh. 


88 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


It just seemed as though Budge could not 
look at such a place without becoming pos- 
sessed of a fatal fascination to explore the 
same. Young riders on the wheel have ex- 
perienced the same type of strange drawing 
power; they see a gully on one side, and their 
intention is to keep as far away as possible 
from the same; and yet it seems as though 
some magnet just drew them straight for the 
hole. 

As usual Budge had left his motorcycle as 
soon as it struck the soft ooze, and after de- 
scribing a complete circle through the air, 
sat down in the mud as though he liked it. 

Freckles had seen him going, and let out 
that call for help, well knowing that a rescue 
party would be the next thing in order. 

By making use of long poles, and all sorts 
of other things. Budge was gradually drawn 
to a point near the shore, where he could help 
himself. When he came dripping out on to 
the road die was a sight to behold; and to cap 
the qlimax he even tried to grin good-naturedly 
through the patches of mud on his red face. 

Freckles immediately doubled up like a 
hinge; nor was his laughter of the silent type 
either, for you could have surely heard him 
half a mile away. 


STORMBOUND 


89 


Laugh away if it does you any good, 
Freckles,” observed Budge, as he cleared his 
mouth of some more mud that had found its 
way in there, suppose 1^11 have to put up 
with it, because you were very kind to come 
and help me out. And now. Jack, will you 
please get a stick, and scrape me off the best 
way you can.” 

hope you didn’t hurt j^ourself. Budge?” 
remarked Alec, kindly. 

^^Oh! I never do, you know,” was the 
cheerful reply. “I’m getting so used to this 
silly thing now, that I seem to be able to just 
slip out of the saddle as easy as you could 
lift up your hand; and then the next thing, 
plunk I come down in the middle of the bog, 
with a splash. And I think I ’m improving on 
that splash, too; seems like I get it down pat 
each time. But it’s getting kind of monot- 
onous. I think I ’ve explored as many as six 
muck holes since I took to riding. Get all 
you can please. Jack, that’s a good fellow; 
the rest can dry, and then I’ll knock it off. 
And Alec, vron’t you look at my machine? 
I hope it ain’t put out of commish. Nice 
joke on me if I had to walk about seven miles 
to the nearest village.” 

He waited anxiously for the other to report; 


90 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


and no doubt in imagination already saw 
himself trooping wearily along, mile after 
mile, pushing that heavy motorcycle, which, 
when in condition for service may be a joy 
indeed, but under adverse circumstances may 
become an Old Man of the Sea, such as 
perched on the back of Sindbad the Sailor, 
and refused to get down, so that he had to be 
carried. 

Seems to be all right, as far as I can find 
out,” declared Alec, presently, after he had 
wiped off some of the encrusted mud, and 
standing the machine up, started the engine 
to working. 

“Oh! good! good! you don’t know how re- 
lieved I feel when I hear that jolly old hum 
again. Isn’t it wonderful how many times 
that bucking broncho has gone and thrown 
me, and neither of us has had as much as a 
broken spoke, or sprocket, or anything like 
that.” 

Freckles laughed again at that; it is as- 
tonishing how little is needed sometimes to 
make a boy see things in a funny light. Now, 
of course. Budge did not mean that he had a 
spoke or a sprocket, but the application was 
plain; he had escaped with whole ribs, and a 
sound head and arms, in spite of his numerous 


STORLIBOUND 


91 


accidents; because he always seemed to pick 
out a soft spot to drop on. 

They could not waste much time cleaning 
the fat boy off. 

It ’ll soon dry with the wind you get on 
the run,” declared Jack, '^and then you can 
rub it off. There’s Alec getting ready to 
make another start. We’ve lost ten precious 
minutes here.” 

^‘Weil, ain’t it worth that just to see me 
come up out of the muck like a Neptune?” 
demanded Budge, as he prepared to start off 
again in his turn. 

^T’d give it any day, Budge,” remarked 
Freckles. 

^^Oh! would you?” muttered the other, as 
if in doubt whether to consider this a com- 
pliment or not. 

^^Only if I was you I tell you what I’d do 
after this,” continued the lanky one. 

‘^Well, why don’t you go on and tell me, 
then, Freckles?” 

^T’d get me some nice leather at a cob- 
blers, and make a pair of blinders.” 

Blinders? Now, what in the dickens 
do you mean? ” demanded Budge, indignantly. 

^‘Why, like they put on horses that are apt 
to shy at things,” continued Freckles. 


92 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


^^Oh! you would, eh?” muttered Budge 
you was wearing the same, when you 
came to one of these pesky mudholes, you 
wouldn’t see it, and so you wouldn’t have 
that crazy notion to tumble in,” the tall 
boy went on to say. 

Budge looked daggers at him, and then, 
as if realizing that it was foolish to take 
offense, finally smiled sweetly as he replied: 

“Well, now that ain ’t such a bad idea after 
all. Freckles, for you; and perhaps I might 
take it up one of these days. I’m getting 
tired of this mud party myself, and the more 
I try to keep from aiming straight at such a 
hole, the more I seem to head for it. It beats 
the Dutch. Yes, I ’ll think it over. Freckles. ” 

With the last word Budge wa^ off, amid a 
wild popping racket that seemed to be sweet 
music in his ears. 

Twenty minutes later and another halt was 
called, but this time no one was in any trouble ; 
they had come suddenly on another fork of 
the road, and Alec wanted to make sure that 
the trail followed the left branch, as he sup- 
posed would be the case, as it was by long 
odds the better one of the two. 

“That man in the racer must have known 
about that patched tire, too; because he’s 


STORMBOUND 


93 


followed the right track/^ was the comment 
of the leader, when they had made an ex- 
amination. 

Once more they were off, and pursuing their 
course diligently, with mile after mile put 
behind them. They exercised due caution 
when drawing near any town, lest they be 
caught in some speed trap, and forced to 
languish in jail for a certain number of hours, 
until the justice had taken his afternoon nap, 
and was ready to sit upon the case. 

Once when they Were comparing notes as to 
about how long before the marks of the tire 
had been made, and Freckles declared that 
they would have several more hours of day- 
light to work in, when Budge startled the rest 
by remarking: 

“Daylight! Huh! what’s the matter with 
our just keeping everlastingly at it after the 
sun’s gone down? We’re in this for keeps, 
ain ’t we? And don’t forget that we’re going 
to have a moon that’s nearly full tonight. 
Alec, how about that; can’t we do some of 
this here tracking business by moonlight?” 

“Well, now, I reckon you’re about right. 
Budge, and the idea does you credit, because 
it tells that you have pluck, all right. You’re 
a sport. Budge, that’s what. Yes, the moon 


94 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


will give us enough light to see how to drive 
if we’re careful; and when in doubt, why, 
it’s easy to drop off, strike a match, and take 
a look for the mark of the patched tire.” 

“ He ’s getting real fresh, ” declared Freckles, 
^‘and his mind seems to be working overtime 
nowadays. Think what it’ll be when he’s 
taken a few more headers into all the rest of 
the swamp holes on the road. My! there 
won’t be any keeping in the same class with 
Budge if this goes on.” 

Nevertheless the fat boy felt amply repaid 
by those few words of commendation from the 
leader; he would go to considerable pains to 
hear Alec say ^'well done, good and faithful 
servant!” for secretly Budge thought the 
other the finest all-round fellow going; and 
in his own simple way he often tried to pat- 
tern after him, though with but meagre suc- 
cess, it must be admitted, because he was not 
built that way. 

Throughout the entire afternoon the motor- 
cycle boys kept on; and whenever they came 
to what seemed a dangerous piece of ground 
for Budge, word of warning was sent down 
along the line, and the pace abated, so that 
he could turn his head aside from the tempta- 
tion, and pass in safety. 


STORMBOUND 


95 


His success in accomplishing this a few 
times gave the fat boy more or less satisfac- 
tion, and confidence in himself; but he was 
warned by both Jack and Freckles not to 
think of taking any undue chances. Some 
time, the latter solemnly warned him, he 
would fail to turn completely over while in 
the air, and as a consequence might plunge 
head down into the muck, from which he 
would never be able to escape. 

The day was drawing near an end. Al- 
though Alec had not mentioned anything 
about it to his friends, he was keeping an 
anxious eye toward the northwest, where he 
had discovered clouds hovering in a sus- 
picious way. Yes, and there was now an 
actual tang in the air, that told of a cold wave 
coming. Perhaps right then and there the 
long continued mild spell that the oldest 
inhabitant could not remember being beaten, 
was about to be ended, and with a rip-roaring 
cold snowstorm that would make a record 
in that part of the country. 

It was about sundown when Budge began 
to grow" wabbly again. When Jack, glancing 
back, saw it, and asked the reason, of course 
he was told that Budge had again commenced 
to feel the weakness that with him always 


96 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


followed a lack of food. Alec must have 
got wiud of the state of affairs, for he gave the 
stop signal; and when the others came up, 
they found him busily engaged lighting a fire. 

chance to guess that Budge is carrying 
our coffee pot among some other odds and 
ends in his bundles,’^ was what Alec said, 
^^and I thought that if we^re bound to make 
a night ride, we ought to have a warm snack. 
So here goes. Anybody raise any objection?^^ 

Of course there was not a whimper raised; 
for the other fellows were feeling more or less 
chilled themselves about that time. 

Pretty soon there was a cheery blaze, 
around which the boys gathered, some to 
w^arm their fingers, while others assisted in 
getting the coffee going. Lo and behold, if 
that wizard of a Budge did not produce a real 
fryingpan, and then several thick slices of 
fine home-cured ham, at sight of which there 
was a shout. 

And let me tell you that fire feels mighty 
good, because the air ain’t as balmy as June 
right now!” Freckles declared, as he rubbed 
his hands before the crackling flames, and 
assisted in watching that the coffee didn’t 
boil over. 

^^And,” put in Budge, reflectively, ''don’t 


STORMBOUND 


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it remind you of fires weVe had, boys, down 
in Mexico, up in the Adirondacks, and then, 
last of all, away out in the National Park 
of the Yellowstone.” 

You ’re just right it does. Budge, old man,” 
asserted Jack. ^^And queer as it may seem, 
these fires feel just as good, no matter where 
you are. I’ll never forget the first one we 
sat around, when the motorcycle club w^as in 
its infancy, and we had to endure the perse- 
cution of that town bully, Gid Staples.” 

So they got to bringing up many remi- 
niscences while they waited for supper to be 
cooked; and as these four enterprising lads 
had been through considerable scenes of ex- 
citement in common, they might have kept 
the ball rolling for hours without entirely 
exhausting the subject. 

But supper was pronounced done; and 
then, with appetites considerably sharpened 
by the change in the weather, they set to work 
doing justice to the little spread. 

When they got through there was not much 
left of what had seemed a bountiful supply 
before they started. But then all were satis- 
fied, and voted the meal a grand success. 

Guess that ought to fix us for a spell of 
night riding,” remarked Freckles, as he actu- 


98 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


ally let out his belt a couple of uotches, just 
as though it might have felt a little uu com- 
fortable. 

^^Wait a few minutes for me, fellers,’’ com- 
plained Budge, who still had his mouth 
crammed full, and with half a cup of coffee 
was just ^Hopping off,” as he called it; 
^^I’ll be done in three shakes of a lamb’s tail, 
sure I will.” 

Don’t you believe that Budge ever gets 
done so long as there ’s another round of grub 
left to tackle,” ventured Freckles, as he 
started in the direction of the nearby tree, 
against which they had stood all their motor- 
cycles, as the most convenient spot, while 
they were getting supper. 

This was about thirty feet or more distant 
from the fire; because Alec was most careful 
about having gasolene around where sparks 
were flying. He had once known of a serious 
accident from a little carelessness that way, 
and did not want to have such a thing happen 
to himself or chums. 

Budge was just in the act of raising his tin 
cup to his mouth when a sudden loud cry from 
Freckles caused his hand to waver half way; 
while Jack and Alec jumped to their feet in 
alarm. 


STORMBOUND 


99 


‘^Here, you, where you going with that 
wheel? Drop it, you rascal! Hi! Alec — ^Jack, 
here^s trouble for you! We’re being robbed! 
A thief is getting away with one of our ma- 
chines; and sure as you live I believe it’s my 
Cannonball Limited. Help! help!” 


100 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


CHAPTER IX 

AN ADVENTURE ON THE ROAD 

As they had had former experiences along 
just this same line both Alec and Jack knew 
instantly what to do. Budge was incapable 
of motion, because of his having eaten so 
much; besides, it took some little time as a 
rule for a thing to work through his slow 
brain. Why, he was sitting there still, with 
that cup half way up to his mouth, and just 
staring for all that was out. Had it de- 
pended on Budge to recover the missing 
motorcycle, the chances are that one of the 
boys would have been compelled to finish 
his journey on foot. 

But the other three were active fellows. 
They started on the jump after the runaway 
wheel, and with all manner of outcries that 
alone should have alarmed the intended 
robber. 

The dusk of early evening had settled down, 
so that it was not easy to see things as clearly 
as earlier in the day; but all of them sighted 


STORMBOUND 


101 


the moving motorcycle, and could see a 
figure stalking alongside. 

When they started on a wild run after him, 
the intended thief tried to hasten his steps; 
but pushing that heavy machine caused this 
to be a matter of considerable difficulty. 
Possibly he knew nothing about the working 
of a motor, for he did not make the first 
move to leap into the saddle, and switch on 
the power, as an expert might have done. 
Instead, upon finding that the three ardent 
pursuers were rapidly overhauling him, the 
fellow turned into the woods, abandoned his 
glittering prize on the border, and vanished 
from view himself like a shadow. 

A few seconds later Freckles was anxiously 
examining his property, and growling all 
manner of things in connection with the 
audacity of the intended theft. 

^^Main thing is, has it been hurt by that 
tumble?’^ asked Jack, right to the point as 
usual. 

Don’t seem to be anything serious — ^a 
few dents perhaps, though I haven’t seen 
’em, and can only guess,” replied the owner. 

''Well, then, forget it, and thank your 
lucky stars it wasn’t any worse,” Jack went 
on to say. "Supposing now, nobody had 


102 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


seen the fellow, wouldn ’t it have given you a 
worse shock not to find your wheel at the 
tree, and perhaps never see it any more?^’ 
Let ’s get back to the fire, ’’ suggested Alec, 
sensibly, as he stai'ted off. 

“Sure thing,’’ added Jack, “how do we 
know but what this was all only a bluff to 
draw most of us away, so that they could 
steal the three other machines?” 

“Aw! wouldn’t we a-heard Budge yelping 
if anything like that had happened?” the 
lanky one remarked. 

But the very thought had given the others 
a scare, so that they started off on the full 
run, this time heading back to where the 
the fire gleamed near by. 

“It’s all right,” gasped Alec, who was in 
the van, “I can see Budge there, and the 
machines still stand under the tree.” 

“But what is Budge doing?” asked Jack. 

“Looks like he’d got a move on him after 
we cut stick, and has pulled something out 
from his traps. Would you believe me. Jack, 
it’s a gun of some kind too. Who’d think 
our peaceful Budge would think to fetch that 
thing along?” 

“Look again, Alec, don’t you recognize 
it?” Jack chuckled. 


STORMBOUND 


103 


^^Why, I do believe it’s his ammonia pistol 
that he got to shoo dogs away when they come 
out barking at his heels as he’s riding along 
the road. But in the hands of an expert, 
an ammonia pistol is better than a six-shooting 
gun. And tell, me, did you ever see a finer 
picture of true valor than Budge standing 
guard over our motorcycles with that awful 
weapon pointing first this way and then that, 
as he thinks he sees shadowy forms stealing 
up on him?” 

“It’s just great; hold up a minute, Alec, 
and let Freckles feast his eyes on the sight. 
Watch Budge look savage. I think he can 
just glimpse us, for he’s standing this way 
now, and aiming his pistol at us.” 

“What’s all this blooming row about?” 
asked Freckles, coming swiftly up just at 
that moment, and trundling his machine 
alongside. 

“It’s Budge,” said Jack; “look at him 
standing guard, and never say another word 
to question his bravery. Pity the fellow who 
tries to steal another of our wheels, for he’ll 
rub up against trouble. Why, he’s as fe- 
rocious as they make them.” 

“But what’s that he’s got; looks like a 
gun; and he might blaze away at us?” ex- 


104 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


claimed Freckles, really alarmed as he saw 
the fat boy bringiog his hand on a level 
several times. 

'^It^s that old squirt-gun of his, the one 
that shoots ammonia, you remember,’^ and 
when Jack had said this Freckles heaved a 
sigh of relief. 

Stand where you are!” called out Budge 
just then. Don’t think I see you, hey? 
I’ve got you covered, and if you so much as 
come a single step nearer, I’m going to fill 
you all full of lead. Now, I’ll count five, 
and if you don ’t skip out at the end of that 
time you’ll just have to take your medicine, 
hear that?” 

He started in a loud, solemn voice to begin 
to count. 

‘^What d’ye know about that?” whooped 
Freckles, unable to contain himself any longer; 
and as the three dim figures started to push 
forward, despite the awful threat of the de- 
fender of the motorcycles, of course Budge 
soon realized that instead of a pack of robbers, 
he was dealing with his chums. 

^^Oh! it’s only you, is it?” he called out, 
quietly, yet in evident relief. ^^Then I guess 
I won ’t waste my precious ammunition after 
all,” with which he hastened to thrust the 


STORMBOUND 


105 


pistol out of sight, and taking up his tin cup 
started in once more to finish his coffee. 

A hasty examination by the light of the 
fire convinced Freckles that no damage worth 
mentioning had resulted as a consequence 
of his motorcycle being so violently thrown 
down. Fortunately these up-to-date ma- 
chines are so cleverly constructed that they 
cap stand considerable knocking around with- 
out getting out of condition. 

^^Yes, I guess I c’n call myseff mighty 
lucky,” he declared when this fact was im- 
pressed upon his mind. 

^^But whoever was it, do you think?” de- 
manded Budge, wiping his mouth, and 
then calmly proceeding to gather up the tin 
dishes, the cups, the fryingpan and coffeepot, 
as though time counted for little just then. 

Alec assisted him, for he also was im- 
patient to be off. The moon shone in the 
heavens, and promised to afford them plenty 
of light, unless those clouds that Alec had 
noticed along the horizon chose to creep up, 
and cut off the supply later on. 

^^Well, we can only give a guess at that. 
Budge,” Jack remarked, because, you see, 
he didn’t wait to be interviewed. Just as 
soon as he saw that we were going to over- 


106 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


haul him he dropped the wheel, and plunged 
into the brush. We might have chased 
after him, only we didn^t think it wise. In 
the first place we hadn^t the time to spare; 
and then we felt a bit uneasy about leaving 
you alone here with the other wheels.’’ 

‘^Yes,” put in Freckles, ^^if we’d only 
known how you were loaded for bear we 
might a-gone after him, lickety-split, and 
overhauled the skunk.” 

'^But who d’ye think he was?” persisted 
Budge, who having set his mind on getting 
information, could not be easily daunted, 
or shunted off on another track. 

“We haven’t had time to even give a stab 
at it,” Freckles went on to say. “But 
chances are, we’re not far away from a village 
right now, and some boys must have seen us 
stop here, and crept up to find out what sort 
of wheels these were. P’raps, now, they 
never saw a motorcycle before. Anyhow, 
one of ’em couldn’t keep from tryin’ to make 
off with my bully Cannonball Limited. Wow! 
another close shave; and it ain’t the first one 
by a long shot. Seems like there’s some- 
thing about a shiny motorcycle that ain ’t to 
be resisted. Tramps take to ’em, and the 
boys just can’t keep their paws off when 


STORMBOUND 


107 


they think there a chance to hook an 
Indian or a Reading Standard.’’ 

^^Oh! weU, no use crying till your milk is 
spilled,” said Jack, soothingly. 

‘^And a miss is as good as a mile,” added 
Alec, as he stowed some of the traps away, 
while Budge held the waterproof bag open 
to receive them. 

‘‘Yes,” the fat boy took occasion himself 
to say reprovingly, “and you’ve got good 
reason to be thankful that I didn ’t get rattled 
and give you all a few shots out of my am- 
monia gun. Think how you’d be jumping 
around, and howling, right now, if you had 
the vapor in your eyes. Good thing I kept 
my wits about me, you see. ” 

“It sure was,” admitted Freckles, humbly, 
but at the same time giving Jack a sly wink, 
“ and it ’s a great thing to be able to keep what 
wdts you’ve got. We’ve learned some things 
we never knew before, all of us, and that’s 
one of ’em. How about it, Alec, are we ready 
to move along now?” 

Budge looked hard at the lanky chum, 
as though not quite sure what he meant by 
these words; but as there was a general 
movement about that time, he thought it 
best not to continue the argument. 


108 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


Truth to tell, Budge was worrying a little 
about that ride by moonlight. He was not 
as keen of vision as his companions, and 
actually carried a pair of spectacles in his 
pocket right then and there, which he ought 
to be using, since it had been discovered that 
Budge was near-sighted; but somehow he 
hated to show them to his comrades, particu- 
larly Freckles, who would be sure to guy him 
unmercifully; and Budge was a bit sensitive. 

But then it was to be hoped that Alec 
would set rather a moderate pace, and not go 
flying like mad over these country roads, 
where the shadows of the trees made all 
sorts of fantastic figures across the dusty 
highway. 

^^Now, this is something weVe seldom at- 
tempted, ” warned Alec, as he stood, prepared 
to start, ^'and we want to be extra careful 
so that we can avoid accidents. I’m going 
to start off at a snail’s pace, and with our 
searchlights going, I guess we’ll be able to 
keep away from each other. Keep your ears 
as well as your eyes on the alert for signals.” 

^^Is that all, Alec?” asked Budge, trying 
to appear perfectly calm, though truth to 
tell his heart was beating faster than its 
wont, with apprehension. 


STORMBOUND 


109 


^^For the present, yes. And if you hear 
me give one sharp blast, it means I’ve come 
to another fork, where well have to stop, 
dismount, and look to see if the marked tire 
has kept on the right road or the left. All 
ready now?” 

^^Yep!” chirped Freckles, cheerily. 

^^Make a start, Alec,” said Jack. 

'^We’re after you like hot cakes,” an- 
nounced Budge; just as if this might be an 
undertaking that appealed especially to his 
heart, when, if the truth were known, the 
stout boy would ten times rather be lying 
alongside a comfortable fire, toasting his 
shins, and dreaming of what he would like 
to have for breakfast. 

So with a rattle of the exhaust Alec was 
off along the road; and as soon as he had 
secured a certain vantage Jack followed him. 
Then Budge with grim visage brought up the 
next in line, and managed to secure a fair 
start; while Freckles brought up the rear. 

In this order, then, did they depart from 
the scene of their supper, and the attempted 
theft of Freckles’ motorcycle, and once more 
the club was on the jump, with the future an 
uncertain blank before them. 


110 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


CHAPTER X 

A STAETLING DISCOTOKY 

There was one thing the motorcycle boys 
had done before starting out afresh, and this 
was to light their lamps. Each machine was 
provided with an acetylene gas searchlight 
of considerable power. When this was in 
use the road ahead would be brilliantly 
illuminated, so that obstacles of any size 
were apt to be discovered in time to avoid 
them, or else pull up. 

Budge had begged the pacemaker to go 
slow, now that night had arrived, and in 
asking this the stout boy had several good 
reasons. 

He could not get it out of his head that 
they were apt to run into another of those 
speed traps; and to hear Budge talk one would 
believe that the whole country was filled with 
sheriffs and constables, lying in wait to get 
a slice of the money that was in the club 
strong box. 

Then again. Budge was nervous whenever 


STORMBOUND 


II! 


the shadows began to thicken. He imagined 
all sorts of queer things as objecting to their 
passage. The zigzag shade of a limb con- 
nected with a dead tree had all the appearance 
of a big snake obstructing the road; and 
Budge would feel just like bringing his ma- 
chine to a sudden and perhaps disastrous halt, 
for fear of running over it. 

But then Alec expected all this, and really 
had no desire to hit up a fast pace when he 
started out again. They must be content 
to run along smoothly, and every little while 
come to a halt in order to find out if they were 
still on the track of the big touring car in 
which the New York financier sat, with his 
chauffeur. 

After all they had not gone more than two 
miles, it seemed, before Alec gave the signal 
for a halt. 

One by one the others came along, until all 
were on the spot and dismounted. It was 
rather a strange sight to see four motorcycles 
grouped there, with searchlights glowing 
brightly, and the riders looking spectre-like 
in the background. 

^'What’s the good word, Alec?” asked 
Freckles, who of course was the last to arrive, 

'^Another fork in the road, that’s all; and 


112 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


IVe already found out which way he kept 
along,” was the quick reply; for Alec had 
leaned his motorcycle up against a friendly 
tree, and looked around, while waiting for the 
rest to arrive. 

“Right or left fork?” asked Jack. 

“He kept to right, which you can easily 
see is the main road,” replied the other; and 
even Budge was able to make this out by the 
lights of the lamps. 

“How far ahead do you expect they are 
from us?” the fat boy asked. 

“Well,” rephed Alec, slowly, “that would 
have to be a rough guess, and I can only figure 
it out from little things that it would be hard 
for me to explain. But all the same I^d be 
willing to say that the big car didn’t pass 
over this spot much more than two hours 
back.” 

“Bully!” exclaimed Freckles, “because that 
would mean they’d have to pull up and get 
supper somewhere, which would give us a 
chance to ketch up. And as Judge Rollins 
hasn’t any particular love for night riding, 
and is in no hurry that you know about, 
Alec, he’s going to stop over again at some 
country tavern, like he did before. And 
there’s where we’ll find him after awhile.” 


STORMBOUND 


113 


^^Then, if no^e of you have auy objections, 
I'd like to ask you to hold up a few minutes 
for me," remarked Budge, blandly. 

He had been looking for another tree that 
would sustain the weight of his motorcycle, 
the same as that of Alec held up, and while 
speaking seemed to be rummaging among 
the various traps with which he had loaded 
himself down in the start. 

“What for?" asked Jack. 

“To tell you the honest truth, I forgot 
something when we were through eating," 
the fat boy went on to say, humbly enough. 

“Good gracious! and do we have to go all 
the way back to where we had supper, just 
to pick up your head?" Freckles observed, 
as if in dire dismay. 

“Oh! I guess it ain't quite so bad as that. 
Freckles," replied the other, sweetly, “In 
the hurry of getting off I neglected to provide 
against the sting of the night air, which all of 
you must admit is getting quite sharp. I 
meant to put on that new sweater of mine, 
and break it in for a starter. Oh! here it is, 
so you see I won't be a very great while; 
and the horses will wait without kicking up a 
row." 

“But look at all the stuff he's gone and 


114 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


hauled out, would you? It 11 take him for- 
ever aod a day getting it back again, I vow. 
And Alec, ain ’t that the neck of his old twang- 
ing banjo I see sticking out there? Ten to 
one he did fetch the agony maker along with 
him on this trip, after all my warning? Now, 
what d’ye think of that for stubbornness? 
Don ’t it beat everything you ever heard tell 
of?” 

But Budge never said a word, only worked 
hard to get his head and arms into the sweater 
which he had brought into view. 

He had just succeeded in doing this to his 
satisfaction, and was still squirming to make 
the snug-fitting woollen garment settle when 
he chanced to step into the glow of one of the 
lamps. 

Immediately Freckles gave a forlorn little 
cry. 

^^Oh my stars!” he gasped, ‘'would you see 
what a fierce looking thing he’s put on him — 
got a band running sideways down from 
shoulder to waist, and I bet you it’s red, 
white, and blue, like Old Glory itseK! Think 
of our modest partner wearing a blazer 
strong enough to walk by itself! It hurts 
my eyes, and will make every horse we meet 
run away from sheer fright. Oh! Budge, 


STORMBOUND 


IIB 


how could you? And, fellows, didu 't he say 
he picked it out himself, too?^^ 

^^That^s all right, remarked the unmoved 
Budge, ^^she feels snug and warm and all to 
the good, which, I take it, is the main thing 
in a sweater. And take it from me, Freckles, 
you ^11 be wishing you had one just as comfy 
before the night ’s much older. I ’ll be ready 
in a minute or so, Alec, just as soon as I get 
this bundle all done up again.” 

To tell the truth, Alec himself was of the 
opinion that Budge might find that same 
sweater of immense value before the night was 
over, for the air was getting colder with the 
passing of every minute. They could see 
their breath now, and the wind was rising so 
that it moaned with a threatening sound in 
the upper branches of the trees. As a pretty 
good woodsman Alec knew that this was a 
sign of storm; and he had not forgotten those 
clouds hovering low along the northwestern 
horizon, as if only waiting for the signal to 
rush forth and spit out their snowflakes, so as 
to start a blizzard raging. 

After considerable fussing and complaints 
on the part of the impatient Freckles, who 
did not like to be kept waiting so long, for he 
was like an eager hound on the scent. Budge 


il6 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


managed to pack up his stuff again; after 
which he calmly announced himself prepared 
to proceed. 

^^And I want to tell you, fellows,” he took 
occasion to remark, ^Hhat I’m feeling just a 
hundred per cent better than before. Why, 
I was beginning to shiver, you know. Ridin’ 
a motor cycle ain’t like pumping a wheel, 
where you get all heated up by your work; 
here you just sit in the saddle like a monkey 
on the pony’s back in the circus, and whirl 
along at a two-forty clip. ” 

“Everything ready?” asked Alec. 

When each of the others had answered 
in the affirmative the pacemaker was off 
again; and without any hitch in the pro- 
gramme Freckles saw both Jack and Budge 
get away, after which he too made a start. 

One thing Alec noticed, and this was the 
fact that they seemed to have struck a very 
lonely section of the country. Why, they 
had not seen so much as a house of any con- 
sequence since four o’clcock in the afternoon; 
and yet they had covered quite a few miles 
during the interval. 

A few times they had discovered a cabin 
alongside the road; and perhaps there may 
have been farmhouses back some distance. 


STORMBOUND 


117 


but to tell the truth it looked as though land 
could not be very good for growing crops in 
this particular section, since more of it was 
not in use. 

In case of an accident it would be a difficult 
matter to get assistance. Perhaps the next 
village or town might be many miles ahead; 
Alec did not exactly know, as his road map 
seemed to be faulty with regard to describing 
this part of the country; from which he could 
only judge that it was not a road along which 
tourists as a rule would be likely to pass. 

For some little time the procession of 
motorcycles kept on without any hitch oc- 
curring to disturb the peace. Budge was 
trying to do his very best, though under a 
great strain all the while, and beginning to 
perspire under his heavy sweater, partly from 
nervousness. 

Then once more the signal floated back to 
their ears, telling them that Alec had reason 
to order a halt. 

Wonderingly the others slowed up as they 
approached the spot where the light of his 
lamp shone. Jack jumped down ; then Budge 
came lumbering along, making rather a 
clumsy stop, as usual, and just saving him- 
self from sprawling on the road by what 


118 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


Freckles said was ^Hhe skiu of his teeth;’' 
and presently that elongated individual pulled 
up. 

Thus they were all together again. 

What’s the blooming row now, Alec?” 
demanded the last comer. Struck yet an- 
other jump road leading off the main stem? 
Say, if it’s any rougher than the one we’re 
traveling on right now, I hope to goodness 
the car didn’t turn off. I c’n hear poor old 
Budge grunting right along as he gets bounced 
and jolted to beat the band. Hello! what 
you got there. Alee? Looks like a hat!” 

‘Ht is a hat, and I have seen it before, on 
the head of Juclge I^oUins,” w^as the reply the 
other made. 

‘‘Did it blow off; and if so, why shouldn’t 
he stop the car, and come back for it?” 
demanded Freckles, while the others also 
crowded closer in order to see. 

“From the marks on the road I think the 
car must have stopped here,” Alec went on to 
say, dehberately. “The chauffeur was down 
to fix a tire, or something. Then the other 
car came whizzing along, the racer you know, 
with the man in it who told the hotel-keeper 
he was a very dear friend of Judge Rollins, 
and wanted to overtake him the worst kind. 


STORMBOUND 


119 


on a matter of urgent business. Kerens 
something else I picked up on the roadside, 
where it had been thrown away, I guess. 
Looks hke a walking cane, don^t it, and 
broken at that? Now bend down closer, and 
look inside this hat belonging to Judge Rol- 
lins. Do you see something there, a dark 
spot?’’ 

As Alec spoke he rubbed a finger on the 
mark, and then held it up. 

The three chums stared, and held their 
breath in awe, for they saw that Alec’s finger- 
tip was stained with a decidedly reddish 
hue. 

^^Why, I do beheve it’s blood, and that 
Judge Rollins must a-been hurt right bad 
when his car stopped short!” exclaimed 
Freckles, staring haird at Alec’s finger. 


120 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


CHAPTER XI 

WHAT DID IT ALL MEAN? 

^^Say, it does kmder look that way!’’ re- 
marked Budge, woDderiDgl}^ 

^'But Alec hasn’t said there was any sign 
of an accident, has he?” Jack went on to 
observe, significantly. 

^^Well for a fact, now, we don’t see any 
signs of a breakdown here,” Freckles ad- 
mitted, staring about him; “just looks like 
the old car had come to a stop in the road. 
But if Judge Rollins wasn’t hurt, then how 
d’ye reckon he could get a crack on the head? 
Oh! glory to goodness, that broken cane! 
Somebody must a hit him!” 

Budge gave a horrified gasp. 

Jack turned his eyes quickly on Alec, as 
though trying to ascertain what that observ- 
ant chum thought; for he felt that since the 
pacemaker was on the ground first, and had 
had more time to speculate, he might have 
figured things out much better than any of 
the rest. 


STORMBOUND 


121 


^^Who could it a-been?^^ Budge wanted to 
know. 

^^Mebbe his chauffeur turned out to be a 
bad egg, and thought he saw a chance to 
rob Judge Rollins in this lonely place?’' 
suggested Freckles. 

^^You forget that the man in the racing 
car came along while the other machine was 
stalled here?” remarked Alec, with such a 
meaning back of his words that even the 
usually slow Budge caught his suggestion 
immediately. 

^^Then he wasn’t such an awful dear friend 
of Judge Rollins’ after all; is that what 
you’re giving us, Alec?” he demanded. 

^‘1 want to look around some more here, 
and try to figure it all out before w^e go on,” 
the leader went on to say, ^^we don’t want 
to make a mistake if we can help it; and from 
the signs I reckon there’s been some queer 
goings-on right here. And, boys, please don ’t 
tread around any more than you can help, 
because it would be apt to wipe out the 
tracks, you see, before I got their meaning 
down pat.” 

That’s right,” admitted Freckles, ^^and 
if you want any help, ''just sing out, Alec.” 

The others had the fhllest confidence in 


122 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


the ability of their chosen leader to bring 
about results in this line. Alec had been 
placed in a position to acquire considerable 
knowledge of the art of tracking, when spend- 
ing a time in the West. And his chums had 
watched him doing certain work along that 
line when they were down iu the mountainous 
country of North Carolina; on the plains 
of New Mexico; up in the Adirondacks; and 
while making a tour of the great National 
Yellowstone Park. Consequently they 
awaited the result with confidence. 

Alec was seen to move here and there, 
bending low in order to examine certain 
marks he had discovered on the dusty road. 
These might be all Greek to Budge; and 
even Jack and Freckles would possibly have 
had hard work making any sense out of them; 
but to one who had had experience they 
could be read with a fair degree of accuracy. 

In order to render his task the easier Alec 
had taken his lamp off the motorcycle, and 
used it to illumine the ground. Such was 
its power that he could see almost as well as 
in the brightest sunshine. 

When six or eight minutes later he looked 
up, and nodded his head, the eager Freckles 
was the first to speak, with a question that 


STORMBOUND 


123 


had been trembliDg on his lips for some time. 

‘^Did that man do it, Alec 5 and what was 
the chauffeur at, all the while? 

There are no marks of a struggle,’’ replied 
the other, slowly, ^^and from that I seem to 
get the idea that the chauffeur was friendly 
to the man in the racing car. Perhaps they 
were even confederates, and this has been 
part of a scheme laid out to get possession 
of Judge Rollins.” 

^^Wow! you give us all a cold chill, Alec, 
when you say that,” declared Freckles. 

knew they did that sort of thing over in 
Turkey, Spain, Italy and such countries, 
but never here in free America. You mean 
holdin’ a chap up for ransom, don’t you?” 

‘^Well, perhaps it doesn’t just mean that,” 
replied the other. ^^I’m trying to remember 
something my guardian happened to say 
about Judge Rollins, when he was telling 
me what a big man he w’as down in Wall 
Street, New York, and how he often held up 
the markets in securities. He mentioned 
that there was a syndicate that was after 
Judge Rollins the worst kind, to get him to 
come in and join them; and that it was partly 
to avoid them he came away up here.” 

Glory be!” ejaculated Freckles, whose 


124 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


eyes were distended until they threatened 
to actually pop out of his head. “Then per- 
haps this man in the torpedo-shaped racing 
car was sent out by this same old syndicate 
to get hold of Judge Rollins, and make him 
come in whether he wanted to or not. I’ve 
heard my dad say that these big operators 
down in Wall Street never stood back on 
doing all sorts of bold things, when then 
had just oodles and oodles of money at stake. 
Say, don’t it just make your blood tingle at 
the bare thought of another fine adventure 
coming our way? And ain ’t we the luckiest 
fellers you ever heard of, always running 
into something exciting?” 

“Huh!” grunted Budge, just as if to remark 
that nobody had ever heard him longing 
for excitement, if only he could keep on the 
level road, and avoid meeting up with acci- 
dents. 

“But Alec,” put in Jack, “what do you 
suppose has, become of them aU? Both 
cars left this place long ago. Do you reckon 
now that the stranger in the second auto, 
after crippling Judge Rollins, has made the 
chauffeur start off ahead of him, or else 
change seats, so as to have charge of the 
touring Alco?” 


STORMBOUND 


125 


“I couldn’t say about that,” replied the 
other, ‘‘because there’s been a heap of tramp- 
ing around here, and the marks are some con- 
fusing. But we do know that the chances 
are, Judge Rollins was attacked and in- 
jured. His thick felt hat saved him more 
than a little from that savage blow. ” 

Budge involuntarily reached up his hand, 
and took off his own hat to examine it, just 
for all the world as if he anticipated the coming 
of a time when he too might be glad that he 
wore such a thick head covering. Jack 
smiled at the act; but then Budge was al- 
ways doing queer things, and they were used 
to seeing them. 

“Well, what’s doing?” demanded Freckles, 
belligerently. “I reckon now this ain’t going 
to scare us off the scent, is it, boys? We’ve 
been through a few troubles of our own in the 
past, and oughtn ’t to shy at such a little up- 
set. We go straight on, don’t we, Alec, and 
try to see what first-aid-to-the-injured we 
c’n give?” 

That was just like Freckles, who was a 
generous fellow, even though at times in- 
clined to be eccentric, and often playing 
practical jokes. Let any one get into a mess, 
and Freckles would go far out of his way to 


126 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


assist. Why, once he had been known to 
jump into a hole in the ice, where a boy who 
had often bullied him was struggling feebly, 
having struck his head when he broke in; 
but Freckles had held him afloat until help 
came, and then utterly refused to believe 
that he had done anything heroic. 

^‘It seems to me,’^ said Alec, seriously, 
^^that if something like this has happened to 
Judge Rollins, he needs our help more than 
ever. We expected only to restore this 
valuable paper to him; but now it begins 
to look like we might have the fun of helping 
him outwit some mighty clever enemies, 
who have gone to work to try and force him 
to do something he must have refused be- 
fore. Oh! yes, more than ever will we go 
right along now, believe me.^^ 

Hear I hear I said Freckles, pretending 
to clap his hands together, as if applauding 
this resolute declaration on the part of their 
acknowledged leader. 

Even Budge mumbled his approval of the 
plan of campaign. He was not a great 
hand for excitement, but he never liked to be 
left out of the count whenever there was any- 
thing going on. And by slow degrees Budge 
would grasp the full force of the present 


STORMBOUND 


127 


situation. When he did, and realized that 
Judge Rollins must have been made the vic- 
tim to a plot on the part of those unscrupu- 
lous syndicate financiers who were bent on 
obtaining something of great value he pos- 
sessed, then Budge was apt to grow enthusi- 
astic himself; but it generally took a con- 
siderable time for such things to get a firm 
lodgement in his brain. 

Jack, of course, was perfectly willing to 
do anything that Alec recommended. As a 
rule they thought pretty much along the same 
lines, and each depended more or less on the 
opinion of the other. 

Apparently the leader seemed in no great 
hurry to proceed after this; but once more 
started to look around, as though in hopes 
of picking up a few useful discoveries that 
would serve as clues. 

Ain't you afraid they'll be getting too 
big a lead on us, Alec?" Freckles asked, 
finally, growing impatient. 

^^Oh! I don't know," replied the other, 
^^fact is, I seem to have a hunch that this un- 
known man won't want to go on a great 
ways farther. You see, he wouldn't want 
to be seen in the company of Judge Rollins 
if they came to a hotel. It might get him 


128 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


mto trouble. What if he had hurt the 
gentleman moreen he meant to, this would be 
a bad job for him?^' 

‘'Then what d’ye think he’ll do? ’’demanded 
Freckles, determined to learn what was pass- 
ing in the other’s mind. 

“Well, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to 
find that he’d turned aside at the very first 
chance he got, leaving the main road for 
some small side one, and either stopped with 
a farmer he knew, or else camped under the 
trees. That all depends on what they mean 
to do with Judge Rollins. If he is to be held 
a prisoner, then they’ve got things arranged 
to hide somewhere up in this lonely country. 
If they only wanted to get hold of him to 
take something away he was known to be 
carrying, why they’d change the plans, more 
or less.” 

“Oh!” exclaimed Jack, at hearing these 
words, “I guess you think that document 
Judge Rollins left on the floor of your guar- 
dian’s library might play a figure in this 
game, eh, Alec?” 

“Sure it might!” ejaculated Freckles, tri- 
umphantly, just as though the important 
discovery had been his. 

“The thought came to me,” Alec went on 
to say, soberly, “and for all we know it may 


STORMBOUND 


129 


be the right idea. But just now we mustn ^t 
bother our heads about what this man in the 
torpedo-shaped car was after; we know that 
he was chasing Judge Rollins like Sam Hill, 
and that it looks as if the chauffeur was in 
the game, and had pretended to have tire 
trouble, just in this out-of-the-way spot, 
waiting for his accomplice to come along and 
do things. We reckon that Judge Rollins 
is a prisoner right now, and needs help the 
worst ever. And boys, let ^s be starting on/’ 

^^How about our searchlights, Alec; ain’t 
they liable to give us away if so be the fellers 
is a-campin’ in the brush alongside the road?” 
Freckles asked, solicitously. 

^^No danger as long as we are on the main 
road,” replied the other, ^^but once we turn 
aside, and we’ll have to douse the glim and 
leave it to the moon to give us what light 
we need. Come on, follow slowly after me, 
and keep close together, so we can help each 
other in a pinch.” 

Budge sighed as he prepared to follow in 
his turn. The prospect was not alluring in 
his eyes; for if he had trouble on the main 
road, and with those brilliant lamps to help 
him see the obstructions, what was he not 
bound to face under the new conditions? 


130 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


CHAPTER XII 

A LIGHT AHEAD 

'^Both cars started off from here, didn’t 
they?” asked Jack. 

^^Yes, and the racing machine in front,” 
replied Alec. 

^^Would you mind telling me how you 
know that, Alec?” asked Budge, ^‘I know 
I’m a greenhorn about all such things; but 
then I like to know.” 

^'Why, it’s as easy as anything,” replied 
the other, '^if you look you’ll see in lots of 
places where the tires of the racer have passed 
over those of the touring car. That proves 
how it came last. ” 

“Well, how silly of me not to know,” 
declared Budge, who was very frank to admit 
that he was an ignoramus, and especially 
when things had been made clear to him. 
“And so easy to make it out, too.” 

“That’s what they said when Columbus 
stood the egg on end,” chuckled Freckles. 

Alec started off, and the others came trailing 


STORMBOUND 


131 


along in the rear. He had cautioned Budge, 
usually careless about such things, to look 
after his muffler, so as to keep the exhaust 
from making any more noise than was ab- 
solutely necessary. 

One thing Alec had noticed that pleased 
him in a measure, and this was the fact that 
the wind was now making more or less noise 
up among the leafless branches of the trees. 
If this continued, there was less danger of 
any sounds they made being heard by those 
they were following, in case they happened 
to be not far away. 

The pace was slower than ever now, Alec 
was pretty certain that he had guessed what 
would turn out to be the truth; and he kept 
constantly on the lookout for signs of a road 
leaving the main stem, whether to the right 
or the left he neither knew nor cared a particle. 

Sure enough, in less than five minutes he 
was discovered at a standstill by the next in 
line, and so once again the four boys drew 
together, each fellow quivering with expec- 
tation. 

^^Well, here’s a little side road, all right,” 
said Freckles. 

^^And if what Alec guessed turns out to be 


132 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


true, then theyVe turned in here,’^ Budge 
commented. 

'^How about it, Alec?^^ asked Jack. 

'^It’s a go, for a fact, boys,^^ replied the 
other, steadily. 

^^Then we just have to do it,’^ groaned 
Budge, meaning to address only himself, 
though the others heard it too, and must have 
no doubt smiled at the fat boy^s distress. 

^^They turned in here, and must have been 
looking for a road, because I haven ^t found 
where they Ve stopped, or anybody stepped 
out of either car,^' Alec continued, proving 
how speedily those clever eyes of his could 
search out things. 

^'A put-up scheme, all right, believe me,^' 
asserted Freckles, positively. 

^^Well, they may be, and again, perhaps 
they had planned to get away from the main 
road at the first chance, and so turned in 
here. Some wagon or car might come along, 
though we haven ^t met many, and upset all 
their calculations/’ Alec went on to remark, 
thoughtfully. 

notice that you say Ve’ and ^they,’ 
Alec,” Jack observed. 

'^That’s because he still believes that 
tricky chauffeur is in the game along with 


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133 


the mau in the torpedo racer/ ^ declared 
Freckles, as quick as that. 

can’t think anything else,” the other 
answered, unless in some way the bold 
stranger has succeeded in bending the chauf- 
feur to his will, perhaps by keeping him 
covered with a gun. And when there are 
two cars to be ran, don’t you see how im- 
possible it would be for him to do that, 
boys?” 

‘'Sure thing,’^ Freckles acknowledged. “And 
I guess you hit the right nail on the head, 
Alec, when you say the two are cronies, as 
thick as molasses in winter. But you saw 
and talked with Judge Rollins’ man when 
he stopped at your house 5 d’ye reckon he 
could be as tricky and as smooth as all that? ” 

“I’ve been trying to remember what I did 
think of Ragin,” replied Alec, “and now 
that you speak I want to say that I didn’t 
just like his eyes, they seemed shifty to me, 
just like the fellow couldn’t look you straight 
in the face. Yes, I’m afraid he’s a bad egg, 
this same Ragin.” 

“Has Judge RoUins had him long, do you 
happen to know?” asked Jack. 

“I don’t believe so,” Alec replied, “because 
I heard him explaining something to the man 


134 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


about the machine, which Eagain would 
surely have known if he’d been in the employ 
of the gentleman a month or so. ” 

^^That settles it, then,” added Freckles, 
easily convinced, when he was already in- 
clined that way. 

They all had to take a look at the impres- 
sion of the tires belonging to the two cars, 
as they made the sharp turn into the side 
road. Evidently this had been accomplished 
at a snail’s pace, for there were no signs of 
skidding, or anything to indicate speed. 

^^And just like you said before, Alec, here’s 
where the racer has crossed the track of the 
marked tire belonging to the big Alco,” 
Budge surprised them all by remarking, 
suddenly. 

“Well, listen to that, would you?” ex- 
claimed Freckles. “Reckon I’ll have to wake 
up, and take notice, if I don’t want Budge to 
walk away from me. When he gets to read- 
ing signs, it’s high time a feller called Freckles 
Codling made some noise. But what you say 
is all to the good. Budge. The racer was 
still behind when they did turn in here. ” 

Budge could be seen making faces, just as 
though he might be summoning all his reso- 
lution to the fore. That was a way he had. 


STORMBOUND 


135 


when there was a particularly unpleasant 
job in prospect he would arouse his courage 
by shaking his big head, and gritting his 
teeth in what he considered a savage way. 

Alec turned to where his motorcycle stood, 
and the first thing he did was to cut off the 
supply of dripping water, so that the gas 
would cease to form from the carbide, and 
consequently the lamp would go out. 

Each of the others hastened to follow his 
example, though it could be seen that Budge 
did so very reluctantly, as though he shud- 
dered at the prospect of riding along that 
narrow and little used road, with only the 
deceptive rays of the almost full moon to 
guide him. 

^'Now, fall in behind me, and remember to 
keep as still as you can 5 no talking above a 
whisper, and no chaffing, ’’ came floating over 
Alec’s shoulder. 

^^Oh! ain’t we going to ride at all?” gasped 
Budge, hardly able to believe his eyes when 
he saw the other leading off on foot, trundling 
his machine alongside. 

^'Well, I should say not, over such a 
rickety road as this, and with only a peep 
of moonshine every little while, under the 
trees,” commented Freckles. 


136 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


^'But they came along here, it seems? 
urged Budge. 

^^What of that? Can^t a car, on four 
wheels, go over rough ground that would 
make a motorcycle grunt, and turn turtle? 
the tall boy went on to remark, sarcastically. 
'^Mebbe you’re just reckless enough to want 
to dash along here at fifty an hour, you’re 
that bold and frisky, Budge, but some of 
the rest of us have got a little too much horse 
sense for that.” 

^^Drop it. Freckles,” said Jack, who was 
alongside the tall chum; and so Freckles had 
to take the balance out in sundry low chuckles, 
as he thought how he had given Budge some- 
thing to wonder about. 

Budge did not seem to care. He was so 
relieved to find that they did not have to ride 
where every chance was so much against 
them, that he could forgive his bantering 
comrade nearly anything just then. 

Once they left the main road, and the 
woods seemed to shut them in. In places the 
moonlight was utterly unable to make much 
headway through the branches of the oaks 
overhead, still covered with their brown 
foliage. 

As a consequence it was only with some 


STORMBOUND 


137 


effort that they kept from gettiag off the road, 
and bringing up among the brushwood along- 
side. Indeed, had the guiding been left to 
Budge, for example, they would have been 
floundering pretty much half the time; but 
Alec had keen eyes, and moreover had picked 
up a whole lot of knowledge concerning things 
in times past, that came in handy just now. 

Like a troup of ghosts the four passed 
along. 

Not a sound was heard from them now, save 
when possibly Budge sighed, or perhaps he 
incautiously struck his foot against the spokes 
of his rear wheel, as he bent over, the better 
to push the heavy motorcycle along. 

Of course Alec was keeping a bright lookout 
ahead. He fully expected to discover sooner 
or later some sort of light that would indicate 
the presence of either a cabin or else a camp 
fire. For he felt positive the man who had 
driven the racing car after Judge Rollins, 
and violently attacked the Wall Street finan- 
cier, did not intend going any great distance 
when he left the main road, and entered upon 
this branch. 

What their next move would be, should 
such a discovery be made, Alec was not pre- 
pared to say; but that could all be left to the 


138 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


future. He did not believe iu crossiug a 
stream until he came to it, or borrowing 
trouble; although for that matter the boy 
was a great hand to plan ahead. 

And after all, it was Freckles who was the 
first to discover a light ahead. 

‘^Alec, I see something!” he whispered. 

At that the leader halted in his tracks. 

‘^Yes, you’re right. Freckles,” he admitted, 
also lowering his voice to a whisper. ^^It 
flickers too, which means a firedn the open. 
They stopped, and went into camp. Perhaps 
Judge Rollins is hurt worse than we think, 
and the man is trying to do something to stop 
the bleeding.” 

'^Wow! it’d sure give me a fine old head- 
ache to get a welt with that cane, and have 
it broke over me, too,” said the tall boy, 
as he stood and with his comrades watched 
the dim light ahead rising and falling, just as 
the illumination made by a fire always will 
do. 

“Do you think they’ll be looking out for 
us, Alec?” asked Budge, uneasily; for at the 
time he was fumbling around one of his packs 
fastened to his wheel; and from which he 
presently drew out something that he has- 
tened to secure about his person, — doubtless 


STORMBOUND 


139 


that ammonia pistol, of which mention has 
been made before; and in which the fat boy 
seemed to place considerable confidence. 

‘^WeU, I don’t see why they should,” 
replied Alec, since not a single one of the 
lot chances to know that we’re around; even 
Judge Rollins couldn’t dream that the boy 
he saw last in Staunton was chasing after him, 
backed up by his three motorcycle chums.” 

^^Oh! I’m glad of that,” breathed Budge, 
and then as though fearful that they might 
mistake his motives in saying it, he hastened 
to add, ^^that is to say, our chances of taking 
the enemy by surprise ought to be a whole 
lot better if they do happen to know about 
us, eh, Alec?” 

That's right. Budge,” replied the other, 
kindly. 

Takes Budge to see through a grindstone 
when there’s a hole in it,” Freckles remarked, 
with a little sting in his speech. 

But Budge was feeling in a humor to let all 
such things pass by unnoticed. He could 
stand nearly anything, he believed, if only 
they did not have to try riding along such a 
narrow and wretched road, with only the 
moon to guide them. 

And so they once more went ahead. 


140 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


CHAPTER XIII 

CONVINCING BUDGE 

‘^Hold up here!’’ 

It was Alec who said this, turning his head 
so that his low tone could reach all three 
of his chums. 

They had been pushing along for quite 
some little distance, and gradually getting 
nearer the spot where that fire was burning. 
And knowing the folly of trying to take the 
motorcycles any closer to the place, Alec 
now determined on effecting an arrangement 
whereby they would be freed from all respon- 
sibility in that line. 

It entailed sacrifice on the part of one of 
their number; and knowing how stubborn 
Budge could show himself, once he took the 
notion, Alec felt that he must approach the 
subject with considerable caution and di- 
plomacy. 

“Listen, boys,” he began, “you all know 
that we can’t every one of us do just the thing 
we might like best, in a case of this kind. ” 


STORMBOUND 


141 


'^Yes, that^s all right, Alec,’’ remarked 
Freckles, possibly guessing what was in the 
wind, and wanting to drag Budge along into 
committing himself, so that he could not in 
decency back out. 

^^I’m willing to do just whatever you say, 
Alec,” came from Jack. 

Then they waited to hear from Budge. He 
seemed to know that he was going to be the 
goat; but then Budge was used to that sort 
of thing, and presently, when he really felt 
ashamed to keep them waiting any longer, 
he said feebly: 

^'Oh! I’ll admit that it’s got to be, Alec; 
what’s the use having a captain if his word 
ain’t law. But sometimes it comes hard.” 

^^You never know how things are going to 
turn out, Budge,” the other went on in what 
was intended to be a consoling manner. 
''Often the rear guard occupies the post of 
honor, and has to do all the fighting to save 
the supply trains. And when we put our 
precious machines in your charge, we place 
the utmost confidence in your well-known 
bulldog qualities; for we know that you’ll 
defend them with your life, if it turns out to 
be necessary.” 

Budge was heard to heave a sigh. He 


142 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


hated to be left there all alone in that deso- 
late spot, while the others were all bunched 
together carrying out the rescue of Judge 
Rollins. But then, what was the use of 
trying to protest, w’hen they were three to 
one; and after all, he could be spared from 
the firing line better than Freckles, or Alec, 
or Jack?’^ 

“All right, Alec, call me the goat,’’ he said, 
sadly. 

At another time Alec might have tried to 
cheer him up, by explaining how such a 
position was deemed a post of honor. But 
just now it hardly seemed right and proper 
that precious minutes should be wasted in 
such a trivial manner. Budge must learn 
that when there was one who had been chosen 
to lead, his orders should be obeyed. Just 
as in that account of the charge of the Light 
Brigade at the battle of Balaclava, “theirs 
not to reason why; theirs but to do and die.” 

“All right then, we’ll consider that set- 
tled, Budge,” Alec whispered, “and thank 
you for being so reasonable about it. Now 
listen, while I tell you what I’d like you to do 
while we’re gone.” 

Budge brightened up visibly at that; if 
he could only feel that he was of some use in 


STORMBOUND 


143 


the matter, it would not be so bad, this staying 
behind, when his three comrades undertook 
the dangerous task of rescuing Judge Rollins. 

^^Tell me!’’ he said, simply. 

the first place, as soon as we leave you, 
manage to get your machine turned around, 
so as to point the other way, understand?” 
the leader said impressively. 

^^Sure thing,” responded the fat boy. 
^^Next?” 

^^Then, one by one, turn all of the motor- 
cycles until they are heading back the way we 
came. You understand, don’t you. Budge, 
why that should be done? Perhaps we may 
have to make a quick get-away from here; 
and it’ll take precious seconds if we had to 
turn the things then. A stitch in time saves 
nine. Budge, you know.” 

Anything more?” asked the other. 

^^Well, yes,” replied Alec, who knew the 
nature of the fat boy, and hence kept his 
voice pitched to an impressive tone, just as 
though the fate of nations depended upon 
the other carrying out his part of the game 
smoothly; '^when you’ve got each machine 
leaning up against a tree, yours in the rear, 
stand by to strike up your lamp in a hurry 
the very second you hear me call out to you. 


E44 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


I’ll say: ‘Hit her up, Badge, old boy!’ and 
with that it’ll be your business to get your 
lamp going at a two-forty gait. Gtet that, 
Budge?” 

“I certainly do, Alec, and I’m glad I can 
be so useful. Depend on me to the bitter 
end!” 

But although Budge said this as brave as 
anything, he did have a chilly feeling when 
he saw his three chums making silently off, 
leaving him standing there alone on the 
deserted road and in charge of four motor- 
cycles. 

However, Budge liked to be busy, for it 
would take his thoughts off his desolate con- 
dition, more or less; so he began immedi- 
ately to turn each wheel, taking great pains 
not to topple the heavy machines over, or 
in any other way create a row that might 
interfere with the plans of his companions, 
and bring reproof on his own head. 

And doubtless, after he had accomplished 
this task, with more or less grunting and 
puffing. Budge would return once mora to his 
own motorcycle, so as to get in readiness to 
strike a light, after he had allowed the water 
to drip gently into the prepared carbide, so 
as to form plenty of illuminating gas. 


STORMBOUND 


145 


Meanwhile the other three advanced cau- 
tiously along the road. As they went they 
could see that the light gradually grew 
stronger. This proved that they were draw- 
ing closer to the spot where the camp fire 
had been started, for all of them felt posi- 
tive now that no other light could give that 
flickering effect they noticed, certainly not 
the lamps of automobiles. 

The circumstances attending this singular 
act of the man in the racing car were all so 
remarkable that Alec never once doubted 
but that he had struck pretty close to the 
truth when he made his guess; and that if 
the chauffeur and this other were in a plot 
to rob Judge Rollins of something, they had 
left the main road, so that by no possibility 
could any outcry be heard when the un- 
fortunate gentleman came back to his senses 
again. 

And instead of hunting up some isolated 
farmhouse to relate some story of an injured 
companion, they had chosen to camp right 
here in the open. 

It struck Alec that neither of the men 
could know much about outdoor life; or they 
might have shown more hesitation about 
doing this, when so poorly prepared to battle 


146 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


with a freezing storm, which he felt posi- 
tive was even then brooding, and apt to 
descend upon them long before morning, 
hiding the road under many inches of snow, 
that would perhaps be whipped along before 
a piercing blizzard-like wind. 

However, hours might pass before the storm 
broke; and then again it could come along at 
any time, according to the caprice of the 
weather clerk. Alec hoped it would hold off 
until he and his mates had accomplished their 
errand, and set Judge Rollins free, if it turned 
out that he was being held against his will. 

Yes, that moan of the wind through the 
treetops sounded more significant than ever 
in the ears of the boy who had known what 
it was to spend a night in a snow forest, 
with a wild gale raging all around him, so that 
he had to hustle constantly in order to keep 
from being frozen to death. 

When they came to a bend of the grassy 
road, still green in parts, for there had been 
little cold weather as yet to kill it off, upon 
looking carefully around before trusting themr 
selves to pass on, they made a discovery. 

And although it had really been ^eady 
discounted in all their minds, still the sight 
of the two cars standing there in plain sight 


STORMBOUND 


147 


gave the boys a queer thrill. It told them 
that they would speedily be enabled to set 
eyes on the strange man of the low-bodied 
racing car, whom the tavernkeeper had chosen 
to speak of after his own fashion as a ‘4and 
pirate.’^ Yes, and Alec found himself more 
than curious also, to see what the chauffeur, 
Ragin, might be doing about that time; since 
his actions were apt to decide whether he were 
indeed a partner in the evil game, or a victim 
of circumstances, and forced to do the will 
of the aggressive stranger, through threats 
of violence. 

As the road was more or less exposed to the 
view of any person suspicious enough to 
glance that way occasionally, Alec decided 
to abandon it for the more secure shelter of 
the woods. 

Accordingly he turned and whispered to 
his two chums. 

'^We must sneak up on them now, and try 
not to do a single thing that would attract 
their attention,^’ he went on to say. 

“Oh! I’m a good sneaker, all right,” mut- 
tered Freckles, under his breath, “you just 
watch me do it.” 

And indeed, he did seem just built for the 
work, since Freckles could “fold up like a 


143 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


hinge/’ as he himseK described it, tucking 
his long figure away in a most astonishing 
way, and in this crouching manner creeping 
along like a shadow. After taking one look at 
how he did it, Alec had no further doubts con- 
cerning the other’s ability to '^outsneak” 
both himself and Jack. 

They took advantage of various trees 
behind which they could crawl closer to the 
place where the fire burned. Before now they 
had sighted the flames, so that the very last 
doubt with regard to what caused the il- 
lumination was removed. It was a cheery 
blaze, too, especially since the air kept get- 
ting more and more nipping as time passed 
on, being already below the freezing point, 
and racing on fast to make a record drop. 

Figures were to be seen moving about the^ 
fire, and Alec was straining his eyes to make 
these out. One he had certainly never seen 
before that he knew of, and on that account 
he felt positive this party must be the ‘‘pi- 
rate” of the torpedo-shaped racing car, the 
man who had told the innkeeper he was a 
warm friend of Judge Rollins; yet who had, 
as they judged, not hesitated to prove his 
affection for the financier by tapping him 


STORMBOUND 


149 


over the head with a stout caue, and actually 
breaking the latter in the effort. 

Yes, there was Ragin, the chauffeur. Alec 
recognized him from certain clothes he wore, as 
well as by his general manner. And so far 
as could be seen he stalked around the fire 
as though perfectly at liberty, and in nowise 
a prisoner of war, which went far to con- 
vince Alec right in the start that Ragin had 
been a part of the game, and while only a 
fair chauffeur, was no doubt a clever schemer. 

'^Well, that made two against whom they 
would find themselves pitted. Of course 
this was more serious than if they had had 
only the stranger to think of ; but having 
put their hands to the plow, there must be 
no turning back now. 


150 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


CHAPTER XIV 

THE ONE WHO KNEW 

Whether by accident or design the three 
motorcycle boys had approached the fire from 
windward. Perhaps Alec had learned that 
it is always safer to do this, if only for the 
reason that the vision may be clearer, and less 
danger of the watcher being half stifled by 
the pungent wood smoke, perhaps to the 
extent of sneezing aloud, and betraying his 
presence to the enemy. 

They found more or less opportunities to 
crawl forward, yard by yard, until they were 
in a position to see everything. 

After that there was more or less craning 
of necks, and scrutinizing of the region about 
the burning fire. 

see him!” said Freckles in just the faint- 
est kind of a whisper, though the rustle of 
the wind above made it impossible for any 
one to have heard a sound many times louder. 

Where?” asked Jack. 

Of course there was no necessity to explain 


STORIVIBOUND 


I5t 


who was meant by that word ‘‘him;” since 
Judge Rollins could be counted on as the 
only one missing of the three who had come 
in the cars. 

Raise your head a little; now look be- 
tween that beech tree and the clump of 
bushes; see what looks like a log, don’t you? 
Watch it, and you’ll make out that it moves 
every once so often. That’s Judge Rollins, 
aU right,” was what Freckles told them, in 
tones none the less positive because he had 
to keep his voice low’. 

'^He’s right. Jack,” breathed Alec, quickly. 
''I saw him move right then, and it seemed to 
me as if he raised his head a little, to look 
around him.” 

^‘Then he ain’t dead, which pleases me a 
heap,” muttered Freckles, with a sigh of posi- 
tive relief, as though he had been oppressed 
with doubts and fears along this line and was 
glad to have them lifted. 

^^But he must be a prisoner, Alec?” sug- 
gested Jack. 

Looks that way, for he doesn’t seem to 
make any effort to get up, only watches the 
other two at the fire,” came the reply. 

^^And what d’ye reckon they’re doing?” 
muttered the leader. 


152 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


near as I can make out, they seem to 
be trying to cook something after a way; 
and I guess neither of them chances to know 
much about camp life, either,^' was what 
Alec whispered back, evidently more than a 
little amused, because he himseK had been 
“through the mill^’ so often that he knew 
all the little “wrinkles’’ connected with it. 

He was trying to study the stranger, and 
discover if he could what sort of a man they 
had run up against. A good deal depended 
upon his character, and whether he would 
prove to be a fighter, or simply some un- 
scrupulous fellow hired by the financial ene- 
mies of Judge Rollins to waylay the pro- 
moter, and accomplish some end they had in 
view. 

“Huh! looks pretty tough!” Freckles mut- 
tered in his ear, showing that he too had 
been studying the man, and “sizing him up,” 
as he called it. 

“Something of a fighter, I think,” Jack 
said in the other ear. 

As both his comrades were of one mind, 
and his own opinion tallied exactly with 
that they had expressed, it might be set down 
as pretty positive then, that the stranger was 
a man not to be taken lightly. He would 


STORMBOUND 


153 


not hesitate to treat them in the roughest 
possible way, once he learned how they had 
followed on his trail and that they knew of 
his cruel outrage upon Judge Rollins. 

‘^WeVe got to handle that man without 
gloves,’^ was what Alec told them both; and 
he meant every word of it too; he saw in the 
dark and strong face of the other the aggres- 
sive spirit that hesitates at almost nothing, 
when a desire has been once aroused; as 
witness the vehemence with which he had 
struck the gentleman in the touring car; 
not to mention his meteoric flight along the 
roads in that racer, in order to overtake the 
others at a point already agreed on between 
himself and the treacherous chauffeur. 

Just then it seemed as though the two 
amateur cooks must have finished their opera- 
tions at the fire. The stranger was heard using 
hard language as he examined the charred 
meat they had in a fryingpan, and sniffed 
disdainfully at the coffee that had been boiled 
until it was pure extract of the bean. 

'^Well, I guess it’s better than nothing, 
Billie,” he called out to the chauffeur. ‘‘So, 
s’pose you get the old man’s hands free, 
and haul him out here to get his share, if so 
be he feels like eating, after that nasty clip 


154 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


I gave him when I got the idea in my head 
that he was reaching for a gun.” 

Billie, which was Ragin's first name, as 
Alec chanced to know, thereupon vanished 
from view back of the bush, and presently came 
into sight again, helping Judge Rollins along, 
for the gentleman seemed to be weak from 
the shock he received when struck upon the 
head. 

The stranger made a place for him near 
the fire, as though perhaps he felt the least 
bit sorry for what he had done. 

“How you feeling, governor?” he asked, 
as Judge Rollins sank down with the air of 
a very weak man. “Kinder mean to hit you 
the way I did, but I honestly believed you 
was going to draw a gun on me. Here, have 
some of the meat, will you? ’Tain’t just 
what you’d get at your favorite club down in 
York I reckon; but if so be you’re as hungry 
as I feel, you won’t kick at a little burnin’.” 

“No, I don’t care for any; but if that’s 
coffee you have, I would like a sup, ” the boys 
heard Judge Rollins say in a low tone. 

But when the man turned his back for just 
half a dozen seconds to pour some of the sus- 
picious looking liquid in a tin cup, Alec 
noticed that the wounded gentleman raised 


STORMBOUND 


155 


his head quickly, and made a movement as 
though half tempted to try and run for it. 
This convinced the boy that possibly Rollins 
might be shamming to some extent, and that 
he was not injured quite so badly as he pre- 
tended, a fact that pleased Alec very much. 

However, the gentleman must have realized 
that he had no possible chance to escape, 
with those two active fellows on guard; and 
hence he sank back again, once more looking 
abject and forlorn. 

He took the tin cup in a shaking hand and 
swallowed the contents. The man stood 
there, looking at him in a meditative way, 
and frowning. 

'^Now, see here, Judge Rollins,’^ he re- 
marked, when the financier had finished 
drinking, do you still try to tell me you don ^t 
know where that paper is?’’ 

''Yes, I don’t know any more than you 
do,” replied Judge Rpllins, shaking his head, 
while a look of bewilderment passed over his 
face. 

"But you had it along with you when you 
started out on this wild goose hunt of yours 
to find Farrell; you own up to that, don’t 
you?” demanded the man, sternly. 

"I told you before I certainly had,” re- 


156 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


plied Judge Rollins, '^but that it seems to 
have mysteriously disappeared, which fact 
I never dreamed of until you searched my 
pockets, then the interior of my car, my 
hand luggage, and everywhere such a thing 
might be found. I have no way to prove 
my word to you, and you will have to take 
it for what it is worth. Down in the Street 
it usually carries weight.^' 

^'Well,’^ went on the other, angrily, 
never yet saw the Wall Street man I'd be- 
lieve under oath, without asking your pardon, 
sir; and I still believe that you've got that 
precious document secreted somewhere about 
your person. I'm bound to have it, if I have 
to rip all your clothes to pieces, you under- 
stand that. Judge Rollins?" 

'^Yes, I believe you would do it, after the 
way you struck a defenseless man," the 
financier continued, boldly. ‘‘But I tell you 
in the beginning that you'll have your trouble 
for your pains, because the paper has very 
mysteriously disappeared," and with that 
he turned quickly toward the chauffeur who 
was seated at some little distance away, 
eating some of the wretched supper. 

The man noticed the suggestive look, and 


STORMBOUND 


157 


just as Judge Rollins doubtless wished, he 
instantly became suspicious. 

‘^Billie, I don’t suppose now, that you’ve 
seen anything of that paper I’m talking 
about?” he called out, sharply. 

‘^Not a thing,” replied the other, frowning, 
didn’t know but that you might have 
shown how light-fingered you were when a 
chance opened up,” the other went on to say, 
with more or less sarcasm in his manner as 
well as in his voice. “Judge RoUins will be 
surprised when he learns that the Billie 
Ragin he engaged as his chauffeur is no other 
than Billie Jasper, one of the smartest rogues 
in all the East.” 

“Aw! what’s the use of giving me away 
like that. Ten Eyck?” grumbled the other; 
and then shrugging his broad shoulders he 
went on to say, “but I reckon my usefulness 
is done with, as the trusted chauffeur of 
Judge Rollins, the Wall Street stock broker 
and railroad manipulator, and I might as well 
show up in my real colors. But I give you 
my word, Ten Eyck, I never so much as lifted 
a ten-cent piece since I hired out with this 
gent. And if the paper you’re after is gone, 
then he’s made way with it, that’s all.” 


158 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


The man called Ten Eyck turned on Judge 
Rollins, and gave him a savage look. 

''Well, just wait, and we ^11 see if there 
ainT some way to make even a Wall Street 
millionaire squeal, he growled. " That paper 
was worth a w^hole lot of money to me; and 
I went and gave my word that I^d crib it. 
TainT often that I fall down when I set out 
to do a thing; and I ainT a-going to be 
blocked now, understand that?’’ 

"Well,” remarked Judge Rollins, "if you 
can find it, nothing would please me better, 
because then I ’d still hope to get it away from 
you; and if it’s lost nobody can ever profit 
from it. But when you speak of it being 
worth a sum of money to you, perhaps you 
wouldn’t mind telling me who promised it 
to you, Ten Eyck?” 

"I’m not telling my private affairs, yet 
awhile, and you’ll have to take it out in 
guessing, sir,” replied the other, rudely. 

"Oh! well that shouldn’t be a difficult task 
for me, because I happen to know that a cer- 
tain clique of capitalists want possession of 
that document quite as much as I do, only 
for a different purpose. I expected to restore 
it to a certain party whom I have reason to 
believe is the real owner; while they mean 


STORMBOUND 


159 


to use it for their own advantage. I’ll not 
bother you asking that question again, be- 
cause I already know the answer, just as well 
as though you had spoken it.” 

^^WeU, I’m meaning to give another look 
through your car, and under the seats. If 
that fails, then I’ll make a search of your 
clothes, inside the linings, and everywhere 
a paper could be hidden. One thing’s dead 
sure, somebody knows right now where that 
same valuable document lies, and that party 
will whisper the same in my ear, or I’ll know 
the reason why.” 

He turned away, to start looking again 
through the big touring car; while the faith- 
less chauffeur sat there munching at his 
burned meat, and occasionally turning his 
head as if curious to see how the hunt came 
on. 

Although Ten Eyck did not know it just 
then, there was some one who could give a 
pretty good guess as to where the missing 
paper might be found. That was no other 
than Alec Travers, crouching there in the 
bushes, and listening to all this interesting 
talk; because he had an idea that it reposed 
in an inner pocket of his motor leather coat 
right then and there! 


160 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


CHAPTER XV 

UNDER THE BUSHY SCREEN 

^‘Alec!^^ 

Freckles gave his chum a little nudge with 
his elbow while thus uttering his name under 
his breath. 

Those near the fire and the two cars were 
too busily engaged in what occupied their 
attention to think of looking around, and 
making discoveries. The man called Ten 
Eyck, who was evidently the brains of the 
scheme against the financier, still searched 
the pockets of the big touring Alco; 9»nd was 
grumbling angrily because the object of his 
solicitude continued to elude his most earnest 
efforts. 

Billie, the faithless chauffeur, who, it seemed 
was something more in reality, and had only 
taken up this job as a means of enriching him- 
self at the expense of his employer, stiU worked 
over the burned meat, being evidently hungry 
enough to stomach anything. 

And Judge Rollins was apparently worry- 


STORMBOUND 


161 


ing his head with the grave question as to 
how he was ever going to get free from the 
hands of these two mercenary rascals. 

At least one might judge so, from the 
anxious expression on his face as he watched, 
first the man in the car, and then the fellow 
close by. 

^'What is it?” came back from Alec; and 
although the tone was so very low, still 
Freckles caught every word; for there was 
nothing the matter with his hearing if they 
did say that, owing to his impetuous ways, 
his judgment was sometimes at fault. 

Ain’t we goin’ to do somethin’ pretty 
quick?” 

That was Freckles all over; he did hate to 
wait longer than was absolutely necessary. 
Although he had the greatest faith in his 
companion, still, it seemed to him as though 
something ought to be doing. 

Well, could you really blame the boy for 
wanting to make a move, when the night air 
was getting colder with every passing minute; 
and lying there motionless as they were 
compelled to do, their blood became chilled, 
so that all of them were actually trembling 
a little by now? 

‘‘Yes; keep still!” replied Alec. 


162 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


That was the only way to hush Freckles 
up; there was no time for explanations, nor 
was the occasion suited to them. Alec was 
revolving several little plans in his mind, 
and he had not yet quite reached a decision as 
to which of them might prove the most suit- 
able, and give the best promise of success. 

Jack said nothing; for Jack was one of 
those fellows who can take a grip of their 
feelings and master them. He felt just as 
chilly as Freckles, and would possibly be 
about as pleased when the time came for 
them to show their hand; but all the same he 
was not making any fuss over the delay, and 
seemed contented to wait until the director 
was good and ready. 

Besides, what was the use of making any 
fuss, when they could not do anything until 
some sort of a change took place in the camp? 
So long as those two brawny and desperate 
looking fellows were wide awake and on deck, 
it would be the height of folly for three half- 
grown boys, utterly unarmed as they were, 
to think of attacking them. 

Of course, a chap with the sanguine tem- 
perament of Freckles, never counted the cost 
when urged to do things. He would have been 
quite willing to try and rush the camp, just 


STORMBOUND 


163 


as though those two desperate rascals would 
run away at the first yelp, and leave Judge 
Rollins to their tender care. 

Jack knew the chances w^ere ten to one that 
the opposite was apt to prove true, and that 
after being roughly treated, perhaps knocked 
about as though they were so many bags of 
feathers, the whole three of them would be 
taken prisoners. 

And if they once found themselves in that 
condition, little chance there would be for 
them to render first aid to Judge Rollins. 

Oh! no, Jack knew that Alec was too smart 
a fellow to order an open attack, when the 
force opposed to them was so vastly superior. 
There must be some other method of equaliz- 
ing things, even though they were compelled 
to wait until the two men had lain down, 
and gone to sleep; when one of their number 
might crawl into camp, just like an Apache 
Indian, to tell the truth, and liberate the 
wretched financier. 

The idea pleased Jack more than a little; 
and if the others were agreeable he was quite 
willing to be the one delegated to do this 
creeping act. True enough, Freckles could 
excel him in flattening out, and getting over 
the ground as noiselessly as a snake; but 


S64 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


then Freckles was too apt to be hasty, and 
Alec would never consent that he should be 
given the job. 

So Jack was planning all this in his mind 
as he lay there beside Alec. Perhaps he also 
moved a little restlessly, just as Freckles was 
doing on the other side of the chief figure; 
but at least Jack spoke no word to indicate 
that he was impatient. 

What if the night did continue to get colder, 
they had their heavy leather jackets on, and 
through this barrier the chill could not pene- 
trate very successfully. No matter, they 
must just stand it the best way possible, and 
wait for some sort of a change to take place. 

Could Alec be hoping for some sort of break 
between the two rogues? That was a pos- 
sibility, because already Ten Eyck was sus- 
picious of his companion, and half believed 
Billie might have taken advantage of some 
opportunity to steal the valuable document 
before the trap was ready to be sprung. 

Those clever words, uttered purposely no 
doubt by Judge Rollins, had opened this 
gap between the two partners in crime. Ten 
Eyck suspected Billie, and the chauffeur 
knew he was watching him in a meditative 
way. It made him uneasy, so that he too 


STORMBOUND 


165 


occasionally cast surly glances toward the 
other, as though he resented being suspected 
of playing his ‘crony double. 

Jack could see how something might come 
of this, which would favor their cause. He 
remembered a very old saying to the effect 
that “when thieves fall out honest men get 
their dues;’’ and Jack secretly hoped such 
might prove to be the case in the present 
instance. 

Doubtless when Ten Eyck had utterly ex- 
hausted the possibilities of the car, and was 
unable to discover any sign of the coveted 
paper anywhere about, he would try to 
make his threat good, and search the clothing 
of the banker, even examine the soles of his 
shoes, and in fact leave no stone unturned 
in the endeavor to bring about success. 

Of course, like Freckles, Jack once or twice 
secretly bemoaned the fact that on this little 
excursion they had failed to bring their guns 
along. A brace of frowning weapons would 
be apt to put a different face on matters just 
then. But when starting out on the trip, 
who would have dreamed that they would 
find any need of the Marlins; and as a rule 
guns are a perfect nuisance to lug along when 
scouring the country astride motorcycles. 


166 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


Well, it would not be long now before there 
was going to be some sort of change take place. 
Ten Eyck must be almost through with his 
search, and he had certainly scoured that big 
touring car from one end to the other, with- 
out meeting with any success. 

Presently he would be striding angrily over 
to the fire, to demand that Judge Rollins 
start stripping off his clothes, no matter if the 
night air was nipping. It was the banker^s 
fault that the paper was missing; whether he 
had hidden the same securely away, or really 
lost it; and he must not complain should they 
treat him severely in consequence. 

They had been put to considerable trouble 
and expense in the matter, and there was a 
big stake dangling before the eyes of Ten 
Eyck, providing he could return to New York 
with the prize. No wonder, then, he was an- 
gry when faced with such a bitter disappoint- 
ment. 

Judge Rollins was evidently in for a very 
disagreeable experience, and one he would 
not be likely to forget for a long while. 

If things came to the worst, and the gentle- 
man^s life seemed to be actually in danger, 
of course Alec would give the word that would 
plunge himself and his two chums into the 


STORMBOUND 


!67 


tempest. But unless the worst came to pass, 
Jack fancied they must continue to lie there, 
and wait for the two men to go to sleep. 

Strange how his thoughts even strayed off 
to where Budge was keeping watch and 
ward over the four precious motorcycles; he 
wondered whether the fat chum still sat there, 
wide awake and, after his usual custom, 
imagining all sorts of strange things creeping 
around him ; or if he had j ust snuggled down in 
the lee of a tree, and was fast asleep by now. 

Yes, Jack even found himself hoping that 
if this latter happened to be the case. Budge 
would have the good sense to refrain from his 
customary snoring; because the wind was 
coming from that quarter, and might bring 
the sound with it, to awaken the curiosity 
of the two desperate men, and cause an inves- 
tigation. 

Talk about surprises, that would certainly 
give them one, should they discover Budge 
fast asleep there by the road, and guarding 
four motorcycles that gave positive evidence 
of having been ridden many dusty miles. 

These little things would persist in forcing 
themselves upon the attention of Jack, caus- 
ing him possibly to chuckle softly at times. 

So more minutes passed by. 


168 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


Ten Eyck was coming back now from the 
touring car. No need to ask whether he 
had met with any success, for his scowling 
face told plainly that nothing of the kind had 
been his portion. 

Billie looked up expectantly, while Judge 
Rollins moved restlessly, as though more 
than half expecting rough treatment to follow. 

And yet, although up to that moment none 
of those six personages in the little drama, — 
the three boys. Judge Rollins, and the two 
confederates, — suspected such a thing, there 
was hanging over the camp a shadow that 
svas ready to drop at any moment. 

Freckles was really the first to make the 
astonishing discovery, and perhaps it was 
only natural that he should be the one; be- 
cause his eyes were roaming restlessly around, 
as though in search of something that could 
be utilized in case Alec gave the word to 
attack at any moment now; for he was 
hoping this was going to come. 

He could hardly believe his eyes, and even 
rubbed them desperately before communi- 
cating his astonishing discovery to Alec. 

But when he looked again there could be 
no mistaking the fact that something was 
moving through the undergrowth on one 


STORMBOUND 


!69 


side of them, and creeping toward the back 
of Billie. 

'^Alec! oh, Alec!’^ he whispered, and there 
was something so excited in his manner that 
the other just had to answer him. 

'^Hist! keep still. Freckles!’’ 

^'But looky, would you, at what’s creepin’ 
along over by that pig-nut tree; and by 
hokey! if there ain’t another, two of ’em 
cornin’ yonder, back of Ten Eyck!” 

And Alec felt a new kind of a shiver run 
through his frame as, looking in the direction 
specified in this whispered communication 
on the part of Freckles, he discovered three 
creeping figures of men advancing upon the 
the camp of the schemers! 


170 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


CHAPTER XVI 

A SUDDEN CHANGE OF CAPTORS 

“Gee whiz!’^ gasped Freckles; and then 
he subsided into silence, taking it out for 
the time being in looking. 

When Alec first saw the moving figures 
he was startled, because his impression was 
that several tigers must have escaped from 
a menagerie. Then it burst upon him that 
as on a previous occasion he was looking upon 
the striped suits of penitentiary birds, convicts 
who must have found a chance to burst their 
bonds, and were roaming the country up 
here, aiming to get over into Canada if 
possible. 

Possibly the three men were furiously 
hungry, and the sight of Billie sitting there, 
to all appearances enjoying a hearty meal, 
filled them with not only envy but a desperate 
resolve to make a hasty descent upon the 
camp before all the food was devoured. 

There was eagerness in the quick manner 
of their approach. They had evidently just 


STORMBOUND 


17! 


come upon the camp, and bent upon engaging 
with the two who seemed to be in control 
there, paid no attention to other matters. 
Hence they did not discover the three crouch- 
ing boys under the screen of friendly bushes. 
And once the latter had seen the jail-birds 
they were very careful about making any 
movement calculated to attract attention. 

Well, it looked very much as though there 
might be something doing very shortly around 
that region. No one heard Freckles begging 
Alec to make a move; the long-legged chum 
was giving all his attention to the actions of 
these three newcomers, and trying to figure 
out what they meant to do. 

Of course they knew nothing about Judge 
RoUins, save that he seemed to be the pris- 
oner of the other two men. They might 
search him in order to appropriate anything 
of value he chanced to possess, for up to now 
Ten Eyck had rather scorned to strip the 
banker of his watch and spare cash, though 
he seemed in a mood to carry things that far, 
after failing to find the paper he sought. 

Billie still sat there, making out to munch 
away, though secretly he was listening in- 
tently to catch all that passed between the 
other two. Perhaps Billie had now become 


!72 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


possessed of a brand new idea; perhaps he 
believed that if he had the name he might as 
well have the game. Ten Eyck believed him 
guilty of stealing the dociunent which Judge 
Rollins admitted having had recently in his 
possession, and the accusation may have opened 
up a profitable vista to the chauffeur; if only 
he could manage to get hold of the paper 
ahead of his confederate, he could make his 
own terms. _ 

The blow fell with great suddenness, for 
apparently neither of the rogues so much as 
suspected that there was such a thing as 
danger hovering about their heads while so 
far away from any human habitation. 

As though some sort of signal had been 
given, the whole three of the convicts hurled 
themselves bodily into the camp. 

One attacked Billie, and struck him a 
wicked blow over the head that sent the 
chauffeur rolling over and over upon the 
ground. Horrified, the boys stared at the 
strange scene before them. They saw Billie 
scramble to his feet, and throw up his hands 
as if in surrender. Then, seeing his assailant 
jumping toward him again, with his cudgel 
upraised, and not daring to take the chances 
of another connection with that stout stick. 


STORMBOUND 


173 


the wounded chauffeur made a quick bolt. 

The last they saw of him he was making 
off at full speed, ^nd in the direction of the 
motorcycles, though just then no one thought 
of that, there were so many stirring things 
happening in front. 

Two of the convicts had leaped upon Ten 
Eyck. It looked very much as though they 
recognized in this individual the more im- 
portant of the two, and hence worthy of 
double attention. 

For a short space of time there was a mad 
scramble that carried the three struggling 
figures all around the cars that stood on the 
road near by.- Ten Eyck seemed to have 
his pistol knocked from his hand, somehow, 
before he could make good use of it; but he 
had drawn what appeared to be a long- 
bladed hunting knife, with which he slashed 
viciously right and left. 

The two agile convicts managed to evade 
his thrusts, but at the same time kept jump- 
ing around him in such a manner that Ten 
Eyck realized they did not intend to let him 
get away. It would be only a matter of a 
short time when, with the third fellow creep- 
ing up behind him, that cudgel would get 
in its ugly work. 


174 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


Ten Eyck saw that to save himself from 
a knock-out blow that might even rob him 
of his life he must throw up the sponge. But 
tricky to the end he was determined that 
these fellows should not be enabled to run 
away with the two cars, and the way in 
which he started in to prevent this catas- 
trophe from happening made Alec and his 
two chums stare and wonder. 

Watching his chance as he jumped this 
way and that in avoiding the rushes of the 
two determined men in striped clothes, Ten 
Eyck suddenly slashed at the tire of the racing 
car, which burst with a loud report. 

Quickly he found his chance to repeat 
this queer dodge, and the shock as one of 
the touring car’s rear tires exploded, told that 
success had come to him there also. 

After that Ten Eyck deliberately threw 
away his knife, and held up his hands in 
token of surrender, a smile of derision on his 
dark face. 

Of course he was instantly clasped in the 
arms of one of the convicts. The other two 
stood close by, one of them with upraised 
club, as though half tempted to smash it 
down upon the unprotected head of the 
prisoner, only that the tallest of the bunch, 


STORMBOUND 


175 


who seemed to be a leader, told him to hold 
his hand. 

^^What^d yuh do that for, partner?’’ de- 
manded this man, standing in front of Ten 
Eyck, still in the coils of the second man’s 
sinuous arms. 

‘^To keep you from running away with 
the cars, don’t you see?” answered the cap- 
tured rogue, with considerable boldness, con- 
sidering the nature of the men he was dealing 
with. 

Alec thought such an answer most unwise, 
and that the tall convict would immediately 
order his companion to make use of his ugly 
codgel, but it seemed that Ten Eyck knew 
his men better than the boy did. 

^^Well,” said the tall striped-suited figure, 
after a pause, during which he eyed the pris- 
oner closely, like your brass, all right. 
So you thought yuh could keep us from using 
one of these here cars, did yuh? Take it from 
me, cully, that when we want tuh get away 
from here, and head north, in the mornin’ 
that tire’ll be mended, or a new one put on, 
’less yuh want to cross the river mighty 
sudden-like. Hi there, Pete, skip around 
now and find somethin’ to tie this critter 
up with. Where did his gun go to? Got 


176 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


it, Pete; then pass it along to me, and 111 
make sure thar’s no one gets away from this 
camp tonight/’ 

A plenty of rope was presently discovered 
in the racing car. Perhaps Ten Eyck him- 
self thought he might have need of it to tie 
some one with, when he put it there, but the 
prospect of being himself the victim could 
never have entered into his head. 

They forced him over to the big tree, and 
standing there Ten Eyck was made fast. 
Meanwhile the leader of the gang came back 
to face Judge Rollins, who had been a most 
interested spectator of all these remarkable 
proceedings. 

The financier had of course made no attempt 
to escape while the row was in progress. 
No doubt he had seen what befell Billie, and 
having already received one hard blow upon 
his head, he did not yearn to have the dis- 
agreeable dose repeated. 

But while his face expressed a fair show of 
interest as to what the outcome of the fight 
must be, there was little of hope reflected 
there. Judge Rollins realized that with him 
this change could only mean that he was 
jumping from the fryingpan into the fire. 
The faces of these three escaped jailbirds 


STORMBOUND 


177 


gave no hope of such a thing as compassion 
or pity. They were the sodden countenances 
of old offenders, who all their lives had looked 
upon the world as hostile, and whose hands 
had always been raised against organized 
society. 

They would rob him of everything he pos- 
sessed; and indeed, he might consider him- 
self lucky if they did not go even further, and 
do him bodily injury, because he failed to 
yield better plucking. 

^^Who are you, mister, and what yuh doing 
here with these fellers?^’ was the first question 
the tall convict fired at Judge Rollins. 

‘T was overtaken by this man while pass- 
ing here in my car,^^ replied the financier. 
^^My chauffeur chanced to be a treacherous 
fellow, who sided with this thief. They 
wished to get possession of a paper that was 
of value to certain other business rivals of 
mine in the city, but which it chanced I had 
lost in some queer way. That’s the situ- 
ation in a nutshell, my friend. Of course 
you can treat me as you will* but I have 
been seriously wounded by one of these 
brutes, and am in no condition for running 
away, even if I knew where to run to. If 


178 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


I have to lose my money, I would prefer that 
you should have it. ’’ 

That was doubtless meant as a stroke of 
diplomacy but it did not deceive the tall 
escaped convict, who grinned horribly as he 
replied: 

“Tanks, awfully, mister, but we’d a-sure 
got the same anyhow, as well as what the 
fightin’ gent over yonder has in his jeans. 
Guess we’ll have to tie yuh up to the same 
tree here, till we gets somethin’ tuh eat, 
’cause we’re nigh starved tuh death. It 
won’t hurt yuh any, an’ we’ll know where 
yuh air when we wants yuh.” 

And this was what they proceeded to do, 
although Judge Rollins kept on protesting 
that he could not possibly escape, since 
both cars were rendered useless for the time 
being, and he could not walk. 

The man took occasion to run a hand into 
the banker’s pockets while this was being 
done, and greedily transferred all the loose 
change he found there, as well as pocketbook, 
into his own trousers’ pocket. 

Then the three sat down to finish that 
meat and the coffee. Little it mattered to 
them, apparently, that the former was 
scorched, and the latter tasted like mud; it 


STORMBOUND 


179 


was partaken of under the free heavens and, 
in comparison with prison fare must have 
tasted like a feast. 

The three boys lay there, as time crept on, 
and watched, wondering what difference all 
this was going to make for them. Instead 
of two enemies they would now have three 
to contend with; and just as desperate scoun- 
drels as Ten Eyck and his confederate could 
ever prove to be. 

Really the situation did not seem to have 
cleared even a little bit; so Freckles surely 
thought, as he continued to watch the re- 
clining jailbirds in their horribly suggestive 
garments, and figured on what an unequal 
match they would make for such desperate 
and sturdy rascals. 

But Alec was seeing further than this. He 
believed that presently, when the new owners 
of the camp had dined and supped to the 
extent of the provisions provided by those 
they had dispossessed, the heat of the fire 
was apt to make them drowsy, so that they 
could not resist the temptation to sleep, 
leaving the disposition of all matters until 
morning. And it was while this condition 
rested upon the camp that Alec believed 
he could manage the escape of Judge Rollins. 


180 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


CHAPTER XVII 
alec's clever scheme 

'^Say, they're all asleep, Alec," whi^>ered 
Freckles, after a while. 

Of course the other had discovered this 
fact about as soon as Freckles; and he was 
of the opinion that if anything was going to 
be done, he ought to be about his business 
now. 

Just as he had anticipated, the heat of 
the fire which the men kept roaring, together 
with the food they had devoured, caused 
their eyes to grow so heavy that one after the 
other they had dropped off. Perhaps it was 
not the intention of the tall man to leave the 
camp unguarded while that other fellow might 
still be in the vicinity; but sleep conquered 
him, even as it has many a better man in times 
past, and brought about more than a few 
historical catastrophes. 

“I see they are, Freckles," Alec sent back, 
wishing to keep the restless chum quiet 
just a little longer. 


STORMBOUND 


181 


Ain’t we going to do something right 
soon?” persisted the other. 

'^IVe got a little scheme that might pan 
out, and perhaps it’s time I tried it right 
now,” Alec told them in a low tone. 

Ain’t we in the game?” pleaded Freckles. 

'^Only one can go, and I’ve got it all laid 
out. You and Jack lie here, and keep your 
eyes on me. If you can find a couple of 
good clubs, all the better, though I keep 
hoping we won’t need ’em. Now I’m off, 
boys!” 

^^Good luck, Alec!” whispered Jack. 

‘'Same here!” echoed Freckles. 

They twisted their necks to watch the 
daring companion, and to say that they were 
astonished to see him climbing a certain tree 
that grew close to the camp, would be putting 
it very mildly. 

"Well, of all things!” muttered Freckles, 
"what in the wide world d’ye reckon he’s 
agoin’ to do up there?” 

"Don’t know; let’s watch and find out,” 
replied the cautious Jack, "but you c’n 
make sure Alec knows what he’s doing. He 
said to keep an eye on him. ” 

"Yep, and try and get hold of some sort 
of bully club, which my hand has just dropped 


182 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


oa this minute. If I ever have a chance to 
whack a feller over the head with this wagon- 
spoke, he^s bound to see stars, believe me.^' 

‘^Keep quiet. Freckles; get a grip on your 
tongue!” said Jack, who knew of old the 
weakness of the tall chum when it came to 
talking. 

So they just lay there, and strained their 
eyes to see what strange trick their comrade 
had up his sleeve; for when it came to think- 
ing up remarkable ways of accomplishing 
things Alec had no peer in their estimation. 

He seemed to have no trouble about getting 
up among the branches, being an agile climber. 

Then for a short time the two watchers 
lost sight of him, though they eagerly kept 
on the lookout. When he appeared again, 
it was in the most unexpected place. 

^^Gosh! Blessed if he ainT crossed over 
into that same tree where Judge Rollins and 
Ten Eyck are tied up against!” exclaimed 
Freckles. 

“Not so loud, or you'U wake somebody 
up!” warned Jack; though to tell the truth 
he was almost as much astounded as the other 
at seeing what sort of daring scheme Alec 
had in hand. 

It was all plain enough — ^the boy meant to 


STORMBOUND 


183 


slip down the tree, and cut Judge Rollins 
loose. Just what would follow, then, of 
course must remain a mystery, but of course 
the fellow who could think up such a bright 
scheme as this was to be depended on to 
carry it out still further. 

They could see him making his way, foot 
by foot, down the trunk of the tree now. 
Presently he would be at the last branch, 
when he must hang by his hands, and then 
drop lightly, a distance of perhaps a foot or 
so. 

It was a splendid little trick. Jack thought, 
as he kept on watching; and he certainly 
did hope that none of the three sleeping con- 
victs would arouse in time to interfere with 
the successful outcome. 

Alec had met with more or less difficulties 
in crossing over from one tree to the other; 
but it seemed as though Nature had very 
conveniently allowed the limbs to interlock 
in such a manner that it was possible to 
swing out on one, and find lodgment on the 
other. 

This he had done with a dexterity that 
only youth and suppleness could display; 
and aU without making more than a rustling 
sound, which might have been caused by 


184 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


the passing tiight wind. At any rate, there 
was no enemy awake at the time to notice it, 
and hence he had found himself finally safely 
lodged among the branches, and in a position 
to make the descent. 

Once the watchers saw Alec come to a 
pause, and seem to hug the trunk of the tree 
as if in alarm. 

Turning his head, Jack discovered that one 
of the men had sat up, and was digging his 
knuckles into his eyes. It was as though he 
may have had a dream that was far from 
pleasant, possibly concerning the coming of 
those men in blue uniforms who must be 
hunting high and low for the three escaped 
jailbirds. 

He looked around him suspiciously, then 
lifted the coffeepot to see if he could drain a 
few more drops from it; yawned drowsily, 
dropped back again, and so far as could be 
seen, went fast asleep. 

Alec did not move for some little time. 

He dared not take chances, though his 
hands must have felt frightfully cold as he 
hung on up there. 

There, he^s movin^ again!” muttered 
Freckles, in a relieved tone, just as though 
he might have begun to fear that the com- 


STORMBOUND 


185 


rade up in the tree had become so chilled 
that he could not continue his work. 

It was true that Alec had thought sufficient 
time had elapsed to allow of the awakened 
sleeper to once more be far along the road 
to the land of dreams, for he was indeed again 
continuing to descend the trunk of the tree. 

The lowest limb was just beneath his feet. 
Once he gained lodgment there and he would 
have to change his tactics, by making use of 
his arms, and then dropping. It was the 
most critical time for the success or failure 
of his object. If one of those wretches 
happened to arouse just at the wrong mo- 
ment, of course everything was bound to be 
spoiled, for the intruder must be discovered, 
and a shout would bring the other two to their 
feet. 

Freckles was gripping that club of his ner- 
vously, and trying to figure just how he might 
make the best use of the same in case neces- 
sity arose; for Freckles had always been 
known as something of a fighter, and among 
his boy friends in school was treated with 
respect on this account. 

“Jack!’^ he once more whispered, in some 
excitement. 

^^Well, what ails you now. Freckles?’^ 


S86 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


demanded the other, more or less annoyed 
because it seemed so impossible to keep him 
still. 

^^It’s snowing; I sure felt a flake on my 
face right then!^^ 

^'All right, let her snow!’^ said Jack, not 
bothering to figure what a little thing like 
this might mean in interfering with some of 
their plans. 

Freckles evidently did not like the prospects 
of a wild motorcycle ride through a driving 
SDOwstorm, for he cootinued to mutter dis- 
consolately to himself, even while watching 
the next move on the part of Alec. 

After taking a good long look at the re- 
cumbent forms of the three striped jailbirds, 
and apparently acting under the belief that 
they were all sound asleep, the boy in the 
tree swung himself free. 

His body hung down, with his hands clutch- 
ing that lower limb, and his feet only a short 
distance from the ground. 

Alec did not hesitate once he had gained 
this position. He had indeed gone too far 
now to retreat again; and the quickest way 
of reaching the ground was to let go above 
and drop. 

But it was before he had reached this point 


STORMBOUND 


187 


that Jack had seen him play what struck him 
as a very smart little trick. 

Perhaps he was afraid lest Judge Rollins, 
dozing there, might be startled when he saw 
a figure come dropping down so unexpectedly 
beside him; and hence Alec set about letting 
the financier know of his presence in the tree. 

His method of doing this was unique, al- 
though just about what might be expected 
of a wide-awake up-to-date boy, accustomed 
to doing his own thinking. 

He took out a cord to which he had ap- 
parently attached some sort of small weight — ■ 
it might be a lead sinker used in fishing, and 
such as a boy would carry in his pocket long 
after the season for such sport had passed. 

This he carefully allowed to pass down 
until, by moving the same, he was able 
to gently tap Judge Rollins in the breast. 
Doubtless the dozing prisoner was consider- 
ably startled to feel that mysterious tapping 
at his front, and then to discover a moving 
cord that acted very much like the swaying 
pendulum of a clock. 

He looked up though with an effort, on 
account of being so tightly secured with the 
binding ropes, and his amazement most have 
considerably increased when he saw some one. 


188 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


surely a boy, making motions to him just 
above his head. 

Perhaps the banker realized what was in- 
tended, and managed to nod his head in 
order to assure his unknown friend he would 
not shout out, or make any other noise cal- 
culated to betray his presence. At any rate 
Alec was seen to swing loose, hang his full 
length, and then let go above. 

That settled the matter, since there could 
now be no retreating by the same route he 
had come. 

Alec crouched there for a minute, to make 
certain that none of the sleepers had been 
aroused, and was raising a head bent on 
investigating. 

Then he moved closer to where Judge Rollins 
was standing, meaning to make use of his 
pocket-knife blade, in order to cut the ropes. 

Jack and Freckles were half erect at this 
critical moment, ready to burst upon the 
scene with the wildest shouts they could 
conjure up, in case Alec were discovered, in 
the hopes of frightening the escaped jail-birds 
and causing a hasty flight, under the impres- 
sion that those they dreaded had found them 
out. 

Freckles had even decided on just what he 


STORMBOUND 


189 


would whoop, so as to further convey this 
impression, calling on the wardens to sur- 
round the camp and block every avenue of 
escape. 

But it happened that Alec was fated not 
to have such an easy task of it after all. He 
had quite forgotten something, when thus 
starting out to cut Judge Rollings bonds 
and set him free. There was another close 
by, who had been a decidedly interested 
spectator of all these little happenings. 

That was Ten Eyck. 

The clever schemer, it may be remembered 
was tied to the same tree as the financier; 
and he did not mean to see the other allowed 
to make his escape while a different fate was 
reserved for him. Consequently, Alec was 
suddenly thrilled to hear a low but determined 
voice saying almost in his ear: 

^^What^s fair for the goose is fair for the 
gander; and if you donT cut me loose too, 
I ^m going to spoil your little game by shouting 
out right now. Get that, boy? 


190 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


CHAPTER XVIII 

HOW IT WAS DONE 

Alec was quick to see that there was no 
help for it. Ten Eyck evidently meant all 
that he said when he threatened in this way. 
He saw a chance to get free from these un- 
comfortable bonds, and at the same time give 
the three convicts the slip. 

If he allowed the boy to take Judge RoUins 
off, without cutting him free at the same 
time, he would consider himself a fool. It 
was either both prisoners, or none. 

And so, to keep him quiet, Alec hastened 
to say: 

'^All right. Ten Eyck; 1^11 attend to you 
right away. IVe got a lot of friends near 
by. They’re covering the camp right now 
while I work.” 

He put it in this way because he thought 
it just as well to let the man believe that the 
other fellows were all heavily armed, and 
capable of doing terrible work if compelled 
to. Perhaps Ten Eyck would have been 


STORMBOUND 


191 


amused had he but known how the most 
dreadful weapon the two concealed friends 
could muster just then was that cudgel 
Freckles handled; and which was hardly apt 
to cow three desperate escaped convicts. 

And as soon as he had succeeded in freeing 
Judge RoUins, Alec did turn his attention 
to the other prisoner. He was really afraid 
lest Ten Eyck, in a fit of ill humor over the 
ill success of all his brilliant plans, might do 
something calculated to arouse the sleepers. 
Given a chance to think, he might even come 
to prefer to remain a prisoner, in the hopes 
that if he aided the three men to get away 
with one of the cars, they might still leave 
him the other, and the banker, whose market- 
able value they could not very well under- 
stand. 

So Alec hastily severed the bonds that had 
been wrapped around Ten Eyck. In order to 
set the man free he had to do considerable 
sawing, for his knife did not have a very long 
blade, and the rope was pretty tough. 

But it was accomplished at last. 

^^Good for you, boy!” muttered the man. 

Alec did not wait to receive any thanks. 
Indeed, he expected nothing of the sort from 
such a tricky customer as Ten Eyck, and 


192 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


only wanted to be as far away from him as 
possible. 

So the boy laid his hand on the arm of the 
financier. 

'^Come this way, Judge Rollins,’^ he whis- 
pered, drawing the other after him, and choos- 
ing a route away from the tree that would keep 
its trunk between himself and the fire as 
much as possible, thus making use of the 
shadows. 

It was now snowing pretty hard, and doubt- 
less the falling flakes would soon be the cause 
of the sleepers awakening. Little did Alec care, 
if only given three minutes in which to lead 
his charge out of the reach of the firelight. 

He saw that Ten Eyck had started off in 
just the right direction, because it was ex- 
actly opposite the quarter where Jack and 
Freckles crouched in the bushes, and further 
away the four motorcycles awaited them, 
under the charge of Budge. 

Step by step did Alec lead the other along, 
and Judge Rollins seemed perfectly willing 
to allow himself to be personally conducted. 
It may be he had already recognized Alec in 
this boy who had so miraculously come to 
his assistance when he was in such great need 
of help; and that fact must have further 


STORMBOUND 


195 


pened, so long as they were not disturbed 
in their plans for escape. 

For why should any of them sympathize 
with Ten Eyck for a minute? It had all 
been through his scheming that the tangle 
had come about. Only for his grand game 
entered into for the sake of personal gain, 
there would have been no trouble; and the 
motorcycle boys would have overtaken Judge 
Rollins in good time, restored to him his 
valuable paper, and then started back along 
the road on their return journey. 

The last they heard from that quarter was 
the loud taunting shout of the man who was 
being hunted, which seemed to prove that 
thus far his enemies had not succeeded in 
overhauling, or winging him. And Alec 
thought that the chances were good for his 
ultimate escape, since the snow was coming 
down thicker than ever, now, and those 
desperate men would not want to wander 
very far away from the fire, and the two 
stalled cars. 

Had Freckles been left to himself just then 
he might have still made a mess of it. He 
was so excited by all these happenings that 
he had lost aU idea of direction; and upon 
hurrying off, would very likely have gone 


196 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


in the wrong way, so that in the gathering 
storm he might have become lost in truth. 

Fortunately, however, he did not have to 
depend upon his own efforts as a guide, be- 
cause there was along an experienced woods- 
man. Alec had learned many things in 
connection with this outdoor life; and the 
first of all was never under any circum- 
stances to start away wildly, or without first 
taking his bearings. 

Of course it was easy enough in this case, 
because there was the half -hidden, little old 
road that, when followed for a certain dis- 
tance, was bound to bring them on to faithful 
old Budge and his four charges. 

Judge Rollins did not appear to be weak 
now, which fact proved that he must have 
been shamming to some extent when he 
acted as though he was. Perhaps he had 
hoped that if his captors believed him to be 
incapable of making any effort to escape 
they might grow careless, and give him the 
chance he craved. But the leader of the 
convicts had not fallen to the game, as his 
tying the financier to the tree proved. 

Every foot they covered now took them 
further away from the scene of the tumult, 
and nearer a successful ending to their ad- 


STORMBOUND 


197 


venturous trip. If only they could succeed 
in fastening Judge Rollins to the rear of one 
of the motorcycles, and manage in some fash- 
ion to reach a sheltering village before the 
snowstorm burst upon them in all its fury, 
they would have little cause for complaint. 

But even though compelled to halt, and 
start a fire to keep from freezing, there must 
surely be some way of reaching a base of 
supplies, and keeping the wolf from the door. 

It was therefore in rather a contented 
frame of mind that the three boys hurried 
down that faintly marked road. And the 
man who was in their charge was so overjoyed 
that he seemed to have been given a new lease 
of life, to judge from his sprightly steps while 
keeping his young rescuers company. 

He must have heard one of the others 
call the leader by the name of Alec, which 
fact would justify his suspicions; and doubt- 
less Judge Rollins was just bursting with 
curiosity to know how this ward of his friend, 
Mr. Worthington, whom he had last seen in 
far-away Staunton, chanced to be up in this 
country to the north, so many miles away 
from home, and wearing leather cap, coat 
and leggings that would indicate he must be 
on his motorcycle. 


f98 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


But however much he would have liked to 
ask questions, the gentleman was wise enough 
to realize that this was neither the time nor 
place for showing curiosity. All would be 
explained in good time. For the present 
he must simply feel that he had great cause 
for gratitude, and that he was under many 
obligations to these gallant boys. 

The shouts had ceased back there now, 
which went to prove that in all probabilities 
the three convicts had given up the useless 
hunt after the fast running Ten Eyck, and 
made their way back in the direction of the 
fire, to figure out how it all happened, and 
where their other prisoner had vanished. 

There was not one chance in ten that the 
boys would ever see them again, nor for that 
matter Ten Eyck either. They were just 
as well pleased, since they had no desire to 
add any of the parties in question to their list 
of calling acquaintances. 

And now they must be drawing pretty 
close to where the four wheels had been left 
in charge of Budge. As they advanced it 
seemed to Alec that he caught an occasional 
rumbling sound from ahead; and the thought 
occurred to him that perhaps after all Budge 
had really gone sound asleep, and that this 


STORMBOUND 


199 


was his contented snoring which was being 
wafted to their ears on the wind. 

The snow had already caused the ground 
to appear more or less white, and as it came 
pelting on the still rising wind it stung when- 
ever it struck them in the face. 

This was a bad sign, Alec knew; it told of 
severe weather above, that could freeze the 
rain drops into hard little pellets like shot, 
and hurl them with such bitter violence on 
the blast. 

They had now come to within about 
twenty feet of the tree where Alec believed 
his motorcycle had been left, when all of a 
sudden a voice struck their ears. It was 
surely the drawling tones of Budge; but whom 
could he be speaking to? And as they lis- 
tened, while still advancing, they heard him 
plainly say: 

'^Now, IVe been warning you right along 
to keep quiet there, and don’t move, even 
if your fingers are getting stiff with the cold. 
Be careful now, or off goes your head. Don’t 
you feel my pistol pressing against the base 
of your neck. Say, let me tell you, if you 
knew all that was loaded in this same pistol 
you’d just shiver worse than you’re doing 
now, all right. So take warning, mister, and 
don’t dare me too far!” 


200 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


CHAPTER XIX 

BUDGE makes good 

^'Listen to Budge, would you?’’ cried 
Freckles, so astounded that he even forgot 
any need of caution while they were still so 
near the place where the camp fire burned, 
and the three convicts were doubtless gather- 
ing once more. 

Perhaps Alec guessed something of the 
truth, for at the time he remembered that 
Billie, the chauffeur, had run off in this 
direction, when the attack was made on the 
camp beside the stalled cars. 

They pushed forward. 

Don’t worry. Budge, it’s us!” exclaimed 
Jack, not wishing the guardian of the motor- 
cycles to get rattled, and bombard them with 
his ammonia pistol; for that was really what 
he was holding against the neck of the 
alarmed chauffeur. 

Whether Billie had come upon the scene 
by accident, and Budge had conceived the 
idea that he meant to run away with one of 


STORMBOUND 


201 


the wheels, the other boys could only con- 
jecture. Nor did it matter to any great 
extent. They were dealing with facts now, 
and the only one that concerned them was 
that Budge was holding up some person, and 
had possibly been doing so for an hour or 
more, constantly threatening to press the 
trigger of his '^gun’’ if the other gave him 
half an excuse. 

What Billie must have suffered during that 
time could only be imagined. For indeed, 
how was he to tell any difference between 
the cold pressure of a '^squirt-gun, that 
scattered ammonia every time the trigger 
was pressed, and the genuine simon-pure 
article. 

As he had no eyes in the back of his head, 
and could not have seen in that darkness 
anyway, Billie must have sat there all this 
time, shivering as though he would fall to 
pieces. It would be something for Budge 
to plume himself on later, when narrating 
how he had seized upon the unknown, and 
commanded him to sit down, on penalty of 
being blown to pieces; to follow suit himself, 
and keep his prisoner on the ragged edge of 
suspense all this time. 

Of course they did not want Billie, had no 


202 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


use for him anyway, and could not have 
carried him off, even though they desired 
to do so. 

But he did not know that. When other 
voices chimed in with the one he had been 
hearing again and again telling him to sit 
tight unless he wanted to be treated to a 
fierce explosion, Billie of course believed t at 
he was in a fair way to be arrested as con- 
spirator with Ten Eyck. A long term in the 
stone jug loomed up before him, and made 
him desperate, so that e was willing to take 
chances. 

And so, with a sudden leap, he was on his 
feet, and starting away. Budge was not 
caught napping, and discharged his ammonia 
gun straight at the head of the escaping 
prisoner. 

As Billie chanced to be looking behind at 
the very second this was done, he received 
some of the spray in his face. 

After all that was about the worst thing 
that Budge could have done, for the agonized 
yell which Billie let out must surely be heard 
by the three men at the fire; and there was 
always a chance that they would make a rush 
toward the spot to ascertain who had given 
tongue. 


STORMBOUND 


203 


must get out of here in a big hurry! 
said Alec, as the chauffeur went headlong into 
the bushes, whining and grunting as he ran, 
like a man who hardly knows where he is 
heading, and cares less. 

At the same time he realized that it was 
going to be no laughing matter, getting started 
on their motorcycles, and with an extra one 
to look after. 

Each boy had his machine in hand, and wa« 
ready to start. Alec turned to Judge Rollins, 
remarking quickly, as became the necessity 
of the occasion : 

^^Do you think you could sit behind me, 
sir, and manage to hold on by putting your 
arms around me?’’ 

Already had the lamps been started, so 
that there was no lack of illumination. And 
to the great joy of the one who had asked the 
question the financier replied: 

never rode a motorcycle, but a bicycle 
many a time, so I think I can do what you 
wish me to try. I’m willing to make the 
attempt at any rate. ” 

Start your horns, boys, and make all the 
row you can,” remarked Alec, who fancied 
that he had heard the sound of coming foot- 
steps. 


204 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


The others caught on to his meauing. 
Of course, if a great racket were put up, it 
was likely to startle the three ex-convicts, 
who would imagine that there must be a 
regular crowd close by; and just then they 
could have no desire to make the acquaint- 
ance of strangers. 

So Jack started off with a succession of 
blasts. Freckles chimed in, and quickly Budge 
and Alec did likewise. Not content wdth 
that, they let out a series of loud cheers and 
whoops, the like of which had never before 
been heard away from a college or high school 
football gridiron, or baseball diamond. 

All the while Alec was getting himself 
fixed, for it is no easy thing to make a flying 
start with a passenger, especially when dark- 
ness surrounds the rider of the motorcycle, 
and snow is pelting down with a right good 
will. 

Ready, Judge Rollins?” he called out. 

‘‘Yes, let her go, my boy!” came the con- 
vincing answer. 

Then Alec got away, and made as pretty 
a start as ever he had done in all his long 
experience with a flying motorcycle. 

He knew that the others meant to follow 


STORMBOUND 


205 


close after him, each one being careful not 
to run into the comrade just ahead. 

It would be something to be remembered 
in future days, this wild dash along the 
wretched little grass-grown road, with the 
white snow already covering the ground, 
and making it doubly difficult to tell where 
road began and ended. 

Perhaps the noise game had worked the 
way they had intended when it was started, 
and the three desperate characters whose 
coming they had feared may have been halted 
in their rush. 

At any rate it was to be hoped that the 
last rider. Freckles, might have a fair chance 
to get off before they arrived on the spot. 

It was after all a close shave. 

Even as Freckles saw Budge starting, he 
also heard loud cries from a point close by, 
as though the men were running that way, 
bent on finding out what it all meant. 

^^Hold up, there!’’ a hoarse voice called. 

Freckles knew that he stood a chance of 
being fired after if he refused to obey, but 
that did not stop him in the least. As he 
started off, he bent low in his saddle, being 
of the impression that this was the regular 
Western way when retreating under fire. 


206 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


Well, there were several loud detonations, 
showing that the bewildered man who now 
carried Ten Eyck’s gun was blazing away 
recklessly; but if he saw a target at all in 
the falling snow, it must have been only an 
obscure light proceeding from some swiftly 
moving machine which was itself in darkness. 

There was no damage done, at least none 
that was known to Freckles, w'ho bent all his 
energies toward keeping on the road, and not 
smashing into Budge, moving along in a 
stately manner just ahead. 

There did not seem to be any pursuit. The 
men were so puzzled to know what all this 
meant that they just did not dare take further 
action, content to return to the stalled cars, 
which later on in the morning they might 
try to mend, should wind and weather permit. 

Of course this riding along the little ^^tote” 
road could not have been carried on success- 
fully for any great length of time. Indeed, 
though the distance to the main road was 
only half a mile or so, several times one of the 
boys came within an ace of taking a wild 
plunge into the scrub, when some obstruction 
was met that could not be seen on account of 
the deceptive whiteness following the fall of 
snow. 


STORMBOUND 


207 


Each one slowed down, and came to a 
stop when the pike was gained, for it would 
have been an utter impossibility to have 
turned the same from the one they had been 
threading at night time, and in the storm. 

Andy waited too, to make sure that all 
his company had made a successful get-away 
from the three convicts. 

When Freckles came in as last man of the 
string, the leader expressed his satisfaction 
that they had done so well. 

We’re making a record run of this, boys,” 
he declared, as the last of the lot drew in 
without a single accident having happened. 

There was Budge, panting a little it is true, 
for it had been awful work balancing, and 
keeping from plunging to the left or to the 
right; but fairly beaming with pride, as 
Alec saw when the fat boy chanced to come 
in front of his searchlight in changing his 
position. 

^^Are we off now for good?” demanded 
Freckles, wiping some of the snow from the 
glasses of his goggles, which he now adjusted, 
the same as he saw Alec had done; for they 
must at times have the storm in their faces, 
as the road wound around, first heading east, 
then northeast, and finally south. 


208 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


^^Yes, it’s on the track now,” replied the 
leader, decisively. 

^‘Whew! but the snow’s sure a-comin’ 
down for keeps,” remarked Budge, who had 
never as yet taken any sort of a ride in the ' 
snow, and was quivering with suspense con- 
cerning how he would come through it. j 

Alec kindly waited until every one else was ; 
ready, and equipped for the battle with the ' 
elements. He was determined in his own | 
mind that he would not persist in the struggle : 
beyond a certain point; and that flag must 
mark the real danger line for Budge, as the ; 
weakest link in the chain. 

Far better that they stop off, go into the ! 
woods, and by the light of their several lan- 
terns try and build some sort of shelter, 
before which they could start a blazing fire, 
than to keep on, and take desperate chances. 
What would it avail the rest if they managed 
to pull through, and poor Budge ran into a 
tree which he could not see in the blinding 
blizzard, to lie there with a broken collarbone, 
and perhaps freeze to death in the bargain. 

But Alec would like very much to get back 
to a certain little village he remembered 
passing through a number of miles to the 
south, where no doubt they might be made 


STORMBOUND 


209 


fairly comfortable at a tavern, and be able 
to send a message home. 

Ready? he asked, when he saw that 
Jack too had fixed his goggles, and fastened 
bis leather cap on, so that his ears would be 
protected from the stinging cold. 

One after another they answered in the 
affirmative, and having thus made sure that 
at least the start was going to be unanimous, 
Alec hit up the pace. 

Those motors were always kept in apple- 
pie condition, and being the best that money 
could buy, they could be depended on to do 
their full duty, no matter whether the weather 
were hot or cold; in rain or snow, it was the 
same. 

And in regular order they made the start, 
so that presently four strange objects might 
have been seen moving along the whitened 
road about so far apart, each preceded by a 
dazzling shaft of white light that made the 
snow glisten like millions of diamonds, and 
disclosed the motorcycle that was next in line. 

And it looked as though, barring any new 
accident, the adventurous journey in chase 
of Judge Rollins was now close to its termina- 
tion, with ^^all^s well^^ the victorious cry. 


210 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


CHAPTER XX 

MOTORCYCLES IN THE BLIZZARD 

There was no chance to make anything 
like speed under those trying circumstances, 
Alec thought, as he led the retreat. All he 
wanted to do was to avoid having any 
accidents, and if such a thing were possible 
reach some village where they could find 
shelter from the storm. 

Time enough to shape their future plans 
after this were an accomplished fact, and they 
had succeeded in finding temporary refuge. 

Judge Rollins had apparently risen to the 
occasion manfully. Despite the wound he 
had received he was playing his part in a way 
that won the ardent admiration of the motor- 
cycle boys. 

Later on, when they learned that many 
years before the gentleman had been quite a 
well known athlete at Yale College, the 
secret of his grit was revealed. In this emer- 
gency the old spirit of never say die'' had 
been once more awakened, and he was able 


STORMBOUND 


211 


to do things that few men of his age would 
have ventured to undertake. 

He gripped his pilot around the waist, as 
he clung there back of Alec, trying not to 
interfere in the least with the other^s manip- 
ulation of the motorcycle, and yet hold his 
place firmly. 

If the one who guided the destinies of the 
machine were only able to keep it in the road, 
no trouble would come from the passenger 
who hung on behind. 

But that was indeed the grave question 
which bothered Alec, as it did also the other 
boys, for with the driving snow interfering 
with their sight, even though the search- 
lights did their duty splendidly, it was a 
question at all times whether they could keep 
from leaving the road, and plunging into the 
undergrowth. 

Everything was now dazzling white, so that 
it was dfficult to tell where the edge of the 
thoroughfare left off, and the border of the 
woods begun. They were as a rule going 
with the storm, which helped some; but in 
another way it promised to add to their 
troubles, for the trunks of the trees were 
quickly plastered with the fine snow, and thus 


212 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


rendered difficult to distinguish from the 
rest of the blur. 

If wide-awake Alec found it very hard to 
keep going, what of the others? There was 
poor Budge, for example, never certain about 
keeping to the center of the road under the 
most favorable circumstances; it began to 
look as though they might be taking a ter- 
rible risk in allowing him to try and navigate 
under such difficult conditions. 

In fact, hardly had he got fairly started, 
than Alec began to repent of having been 
willing to accept the chances of an accident. 
Budge had seemed so entirely confident of 
being able to keep up with the procession, 
that the leader had been tempted to make the 
start; but he was soon sorry. 

What made it extremely hard was the fact 
that it was utterly out of the question to 
know how things were coming on behind him. 
He kept his ears strained to the utmost, 
but by now the whine of the storm had in- 
creased to what seemed to be almost a roar, 
as the wind tore through the trees, causing 
th^m to bend and creak before the long-de- 
layed wintry blast. 

As he turned some bend in the road it 
required pretty much all Alec could do to 


STORMBOUND 


213 


prevent being blown over; and at such times 
his heart was in his throat for fear of clumsy 
Budge. 

A dozen times he fancied he heard what 
sounded like a shout of alarm from somewhere 
in the rear; and on every occasion it gave him 
a nasty shock. He pictured poor Budge 
banging headlong into a tree that he did not 
see, and perhaps not being noticed by the 
others as they came along with their heads 
bowed to avoid the cutting blast of the driving 
storm. 

The agony Alec suffered during that short 
time he would not soon forget; and it was 
rapidly becoming^uosupportable. 

Yet what could he do to bring about a 
change? Of course they might stop, and in 
the woods somewhere start a roaring fire 
that would take the chill out of their rapidly 
benumbing fingers. That would mean a halt 
all night there, exposed to the fury of what 
seemed to be a gathering blizzard. 

Alec had to think quickly and decide on 
his course of action. Had it been only for 
himself that he had to consider, he would 
undoubtedly have kept on, and sooner or 
later reached some shelter, even though it 
were only a farmhouse rather than a village; 


214 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


but whea there was a lame member of the 
quartette to think about and worry over, 
he had to eliminate himself entirely, and look 
at things from the standpoint of Budge. 

It was astonishing how rapidly the gale 
had sprung up, once it started. Why, it 
came crashing along through the woods with 
a shriek and a howl that must have struck 
terror to the heart of Budge, as he lumbered 
along on his motorcycle, which he long called 
^'Old Hurricane.’’ 

The snow was no longer a wet one, but under 
the increasing cold seemed to become dry and 
powdery, as it always does in a blizzard. 
In this shape it was picked up by the wind, 
and filled the air more and more, so that as 
the minutes passed the difficulty of seeing 
was being increased ten-fold. 

Alec realized that they would never be 
able to find harbor at this rate. Even now 
they were being made the playthings of the 
elements; and the chances of an accident 
hovered over their heads most threateningly. 

What then was the use in taking such 
desperate chances? Alec w'as inclined to 
play the game cautiously, and especially when 
he had others to consider as well as himself. 

And so he settled it in his mind that no 


STOmBOUND 


215 


matter what difficulties they might face in 
making this camp in the open woods, while 
the snowstorm raged, it would be far better 
than to take chances pushing on in this 
manner, hardly knowing as to whether the 
comrades in the rear were coming along, or 
doubled up in a bad smash. 

Having settled this in his mind, the next 
thing was to come to a halt, and getting out 
of the way, give the signal, so that the rest 
might heed in time. 

Watching his opportunity when the coast 
seemed comparatively clear, and just be- 
fore reaching a bend in the road that would 
have proven a particularly hard place to 
navigate, Alec shut off power, and applied 
his brake. 

At the same time he called out, so that his 
passenger, clinging so desperately to his 
waist, might be warned in time: 

Going to stop here; hold yourself ready, 
sir!^^ 

After all, it was not a difficult feat to do; 
and as the heavy machine brought up, their 
feet were immediately planted on the ground, 
slipping a little, but not enough to interfere 
with supporting the motorcycle. 

Then Alec gave the blast upon his bugle 


216 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


which was to be the signal for the halt. He 
could look around now, and see the glow of 
the next lantern through the pelting snow. 

This turned out to be Jack, who hearing 
the loud blast of the horn, managed to pull 
up just short of the place where the leader 
stood on the side of the road. 

^Ts Budge coming along all right?” bawled 
Alec; for the storm was making such a wild 
racket by now that it was utterly impossible 
to converse in ordinary tones. 

Don’t know!” came the reply; and look- 
ing as best he could through his goggles, 
partly covered with snow, Alec strove to catch 
sight of another glow along the lonely road. 

At first he did not succeed, and his heart 
grew cold with apprehension lest he had waited 
too long before making up his mind to halt; 
and that disaster had overtaken the fat chum 
whom they all loved so well. 

But then he reasoned that of course Budge, 
being always slower to move than any of his 
companions, would naturally fall more or 
less behind in this wild race; and as Freckles 
playing rear guard, must accommodate his 
pace to that of the other, the consequence 
was that both of them might be several 
minutes in coming along. 


STORMBOUND 


217 


Still, Alec confessed to having a severe 
fright as he stood there, staring back along 
the course he had just covered, and hoping 
that all might turn out to be well with the 
other two boys. 

see something coming!^’ called out Jack, 
presently. 

Yes, it looks like a light through the driv- 
ing snow; but how queer it is. Now I can 
see the heart of it; but you’d think it a 
whirling wheel,” remarked Alec in a loud 
voice. 

He watched it bearing down upon them, 
ready to sound his horn at the right moment, 
so that the rider should not bring up too 
speedily, and fail to reach the spot where 
he and Jack and Judge Rollins stood. 

Back of that strange light he could just 
faintly make out a blur that must be the 
motorcycle and its clinging rider, balancing 
to avoid being thrown as the tires slipped on 
the snow-crusted road. 

Was it Budge, or Freckles? 

This last possibility gave Alec another 
cause for shiveridg, nor was it the bitter cold 
that brought this about. But in another 
minute he would know the worst; for the on- 
coming rider was now at about the spot 


218 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


where he must be warned that the halt had 
been called. 

Hardly had this been done than Alec took 
immediate courage, for his quick eye had 
discovered infallible signs that told him the 
newcomer must be Budge. Freckles was 
too spry a fellow on his wheel to bring about 
so clumsy a stop; only Budge could be ex- 
pected to negotiate such a thing. 

Yes, and there down the road had appeared 
a fourth little glow that was rapidly expanding 
as the last machine came bowling merrily 
on; Freckles defying the storm, and bent 
only on keeping a respectable distance behind 
Budgets motorcycle. 

Then all was well, and they had at least 
succeeded in making this first stage of the 
homeward journey, short though it had been, 
in safety. 

Alec was no longer depressed in spirits. 
No matter what difficulties they might have 
to face from now on, so long as all of them 
were sound of limb he felt that they could do 
wonders. Why, it would be only a picnic, 
camping there, and forming some kind of a 
rude shelter as best the conditions allowed. 
Whoever before heard of a motorcycle run 
through a blizzard? It promised to be the 


STORMBOUND 


219 


most novel experience of all that had been 
written down in the logbook which contained 
the record of the various runs they had made 
since the first machine was purchased by 
Alec. 

‘^What's this mean, boys?” questioned 
Freckles, as he too was brought up with a 
round turn, and joined the group. 

His teeth were chattering so that he could 
hardly form the words; but Freckles was 
nothing if not game, and so long as the rest 
kept on there would never have been heard 
a complaint from him. 

use trying to keep this thing going,” 
Alec called out; ‘'there's too much chance 
of an accident about it, and I couldn't stand 
the responsibility any longer.” 

“Then what^re we goin’ to do about it?” 
chimed in Budge, panting, as usual, with 
the exertions he had been put to, in order 
to retain his seat, when his wheel manifested 
such a dogged determination to skid, and 
threaten disaster whenever he came to a 
bend in the road, however slight. 

“Why, well have to break in here, some- 
how, and start a fire,” replied the leader of 
the expedition. 

“And that same fire can't get goin' any 


220 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


too soon to please me, either,’^ cried Freckles, 
who now found himself shaking as though 
he had the ague. ^^Wow! that wind just 
goes through even my leather coat, and 
seems to freeze my marrow. Alec, let’s be 
gettin’ busy right away.” 

Truth to tell, Alec was himself nothing loth. 
The very thought of a cheery blaze gave him 
solid satisfaction; and so he only too willingly 
led off. 

Their object now was to run across some 
sort of a place where they might secure more 
or less shelter from the wind. This might 
be accomplished in one of several ways — 
a bunch of trees growing close together would 
do; or it might be a sudden rise of the ground, 
forming a little hill; and Alec also knew a 
trick that answered admirably under like 
conditions, provided they could run across 
a tree that at some time in the past had been 
uprooted by the storms that every few years 
swept across this section of country. 

They had been stumbling along in this 
way for several minutes, and losing all idea 
of direction in the effort to push ahead, 
when Alec made up his mind there was 
really no need of keeping on. 

The wind did not seem to come with such 


STORMBOUND 


221 


violence just where they were at that particular 
moment; and perhaps they might go much 
further and fare worse. Besides, they were 
almost perishing from the cold, and he felt 
that Judge Rollins, being no longer vigorous, 
could not stand it much longer. 

‘^Hold up here, boys!’’ he called out, 

what’s the use keeping on any further, 
when we can start our fire, and get warmed 
up?” 

The others were just in the act of finding 
convenient trees against which to lean their 
motorcycles, when Freckles gave a loud 
yelp. 

Takes me to bring good luck!” he shouted 
in evident glee. 

“What you got. Freckles?” demanded 
Budge, beginning to grow excited. 

“Why, bless your innocent heart. Budge, 
see yonder what I’ve found — if that ain’t 
some sort of a shack over there, you can 
take my head for a football!” was the exult- 
ant cry Freckles gave. 


222 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


CHAPTER XXI 

STORMBOUND 

^'Oh! tell me that again, Freckles,'^ ex- 
claimed Budge, “of all sweet words of tongue 
or pen, the sweetest are those that tell of 
home. A shack, did you say? Where is 
it? Show it to me. Freckles! My stars! 
but ainT it cold, though? And to think of 
you finding a real house, here in this wilder- 
ness. Oh! joy! Let’s knock the people up, 
right away, and ask them to give us a corner 
by the fire! Hurry, Freckles. I only hope 
it don’t fade away like they say things do 
out on the plains — when you think you see a 
bully old river that turns out to be only at- 
mosphere. ” 

Budge certainly did like to talk, once he 
became excited. The others, meanwhile, were 
acting, and for fear of being left behind, the 
fat boy suddenly shifted his energies from 
speech to deeds. 

Trundling his motorcycle along he sought 
to overtake them. To his surprise they did 


STORMBOUND 


223 


not seem to hesitate even a moment at the 
door of the cabin, but pushed right in, as 
though taking possession by right of first 
discovery. 

^^Why, I declare if it ain’t empty!” was 
the exclamation Budge gave utterance to, 
as soon as he crossed the doorsill, machine 
in hand, to find that this three comrades 
were in possession. 

^‘Huh! you c’n count yourself as nothing 
if you want to. Budge, but the rest of us 
think we stand for a whole lot,” remarked 
Freckles, and as the roar of the wind and the 
rattle of branches did not sound near so loud 
once they had gained the interior of the lone 
deserted cabin in the snow forest, it was pos- 
sible to talk without shouting at the top of 
their voices now. 

Let’s get busy, fellows!” said Alec, as he 
placed his motorcycle in a corner. Better 
put your wheels over here, where they’ll 
be as far from the fire as we can get them. 
Then every one hunt wood. Given five 
minutes and I guess we ought to be seeing 
a fire on that hearth.” 

Even Judge Rollins started to carry out 
this idea, for he would not let them think 


224 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


that he was unequal to the task of assisting 
in the gathering of fuel. 

Out into the storm they went again, every 
one bent on dragging back any spare branches 
they could run across. 

'^Careful not to wander too far away,’' 
Alec had warned them all. ^‘And if you do 
lose track of the cabin, stand still and shout. 
Somebody ’ll answer, and give you your 
bearings. ” 

And Judge Rollins must have considered 
that the boy who could think of a thing like 
this under such exciting conditions must have 
a pretty old head on young shoulders. 

Alec did more. 

In order that those who hunted for fuel 
outside should have more or less illumination 
while they worked, he placed one of the wheels 
in such a position that the light was thrown 
outside. Then he too started to assist in 
the work. 

When five pair of willing hands are busy, 
it is wonderful what they can accomplish; 
and very soon there was quite an abundant 
supply of wood inside the sheltering walls 
of the old cabin. 

Then Freckles, as the fire-builder, started 
operations, and quickly had a little blaze 


STORMBOUND 


225 


going in the fireplace, which possibly had lain 
idle for many a year. 

This being added to as it took hold, inside 
of another short space of time he had a roaring 
blaze, which caused Budge to draw near, 
and hold out his chubby hands now blue with 
cold, toward the generous heat. 

^^Say, ainT this the boss thing, though?” 
Budge started to say, as he tried to soak in 
all he could of the warmth, and beamed on 
his chums, meanwhile making room for them 
at the fire. 

^^Sure thing,” declared Freckles. 

Alec was trying to get the broken door of 
the cabin into standing up, so that a great 
deal of the cold might be kept out of the place. 
He knew that a long and far from pleasant 
night was before them, and meant to make 
things as comfortable as possible. 

What awaited them on the morrow none 
could say; but boys live pretty much in the 
immediate present, and as a rule seldom 
worry about future possibilities. 

'^AinT it a good thing we had our supper, 
though?” remarked Freckles. 

''But that seems like a pretty long time 
ago,” said Budge, thoughtfully. 

"I hope you ainT gettin^ hungry already. 


226 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


Budge?” the tall boy observed, eyeing him 
chum rather wistfully, as though this might 
be put forth as a sort of feeler; because it may 
be remembered that Budge had been the wise 
fellow to carry certain supplies along; and 
perhaps Freckles was secretly hoping that 
still more of the same sort might be forth- 
coming. 

‘^Perhaps Judge Rollins hasn’t had a bite 
to eat since noon?” suggested Jack, ^‘and if 
you happen to have something more in along 
with your stuff. Budge, I reckon you wouldn’t 
mind getting it out. After that cold ride, 
I’d like a cup of hot coffee myself, firstrate.” 

“Count me in!” said Freckles boldly. 

Budge did not say anything in reply, but 
cheerfully got to work with the various traps 
he had fastened to his wheel, that made it 
bulge “like a regular freighter,” as Freckles 
often declared. 

When he turned around a few minutes 
later he handed Alec another small package 
that was wrapped up in a newspaper, which, 
upon being opened, disclosed several more 
slices of delicious ham. 

“And here’s a whole loaf of bread to go 
with it,” remarked the wonderful magician 
Budge, as he whipped the article in question 


STORMBOUND 


227 


out from amidst a miscellaneous collection 
of things ^‘too numerous to mention/^ Freck- 
les declared. 

Bully boy, Budge!’’ shouted the tall boy. 
^^That ought to give Judge Rollins a jolly 
little supper, and leave enough for our break- 
fast. No use talking. Budge, when it comes 
to laying in supplies, you go way up head 
in the class. You’re fine as silk; and don’t 
forget I’m your friend.” 

There was an abundance of coffee, though 
of course it would have to be taken clear, 
or black,” since they had no means of 
securing milk or sugar; but then no one ob- 
jected to that. 

And before a great while the coffeepot 
was sending out the most delicious odors 
those boys thought they had ever sniffed. 
The slice of ham was done to a turn in the 
frying pan; and when Judge Rollins sat 
there, breaking his fast, he looked as though 
he might be enjoying himself hugely. 

All of them had their share of the coffee; 
and when the gentleman had finished his 
supper, Alec opened a little surprise for him. 

While the fire crackled, and the old cabin 
felt pretty warm and comfortable, even if 
the fierce wind did find many a crack and 


228 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


cranny through which it crept, Alec sat down 
beside the gentleman. 

suppose youVe been wondering what- 
ever brought us along up here, Judge Rollins, 
when by rights we ought to be away down in 
Staunton?’’ he said, first of all. 

^'Well, yes, it certainly has struck me as 
a very singular thing, my boy,” replied the 
financier; adding with a smile, ^^but one of 
the most fortunate for me that ever came 
about. And really, I never knew that motor- 
cycles were apt to be in much use in winter 
time, around as cold a country as this.” 

‘^Wow! I guess they ain’t, as a rule,” said 
Freckles, who was an attentive listener; for 
he knew that Alec was about to tell the 
gentleman some pleasing news; and like most 
boys. Freckles liked to be on hand when 
there was anything of this kind being passed 
around. 

‘^Well, it happens. Judge Rollins, that 
hiding there close to the camp of those men 
who were holding you a prisoner, we overheard 
a lot they said,” Alec continued, approach- 
the subject by easy stages, as it were. 

“Then you must know that fortune dealt 
them a pretty cruel blow,” remarked the 
gentleman, “although at the same time I 


STORMBOUND 


229 


received a part of the recoil of the guu, my- 
self, if you will allow me to put it that way, 
boys. 

Meaning about the lost paper, sir,’' Alec 
went on to say. 

Something about the way the boy said this 
caused Judge Rollins to give a sudden little 
start, and glance around curiously at Alec’s 
face. What he saw there no doubt made his 
heart throb faster than its wont. 

^^Come, you don’t mean to tell me that 
my lost paper could have had anything to 
do with this unusual run you motorcycle 
boys have made up into this wintry country? ” 
he asked with a suspicious tremble in his 
voice. 

For answer Alec thrust his hand inside 
his leather jacket, and produced some object 
which he hastily placed in the possession 
of the other. 

'^My guardian found that on the floor of 
the library long after you had left our house. 
Judge Rollins,” he said, quickly; ^'and he 
seemed to know that it was of considerable 
importance to you. But you had not left 
him any clue as to where you would be, and 
he was bothered to know how he could com- 
municate with you; when the idea came to 


230 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


me that perhaps we might organize a little 
run during the Christmas holidays, since the 
weather was so remarkably fine, and perhaps 
overtake you/^ 

The financier was very much pleased, and 
his eyes sparkled as he shook each of the three 
lads warmly by the hand. 

^^You have certainly done me one of the 
greatest of favors, boys,’’ he declared; '^and 
which I can never forget. To get this docu- 
ment in my hands again is a splendid thing, 
for it means a fortune to a poor old gentleman 
within fifty miles of here, whose family will 
be the happiest in the whole State after I’ve 
dropped in to see them. I just couldn’t 
resist carrying him the good news myself, 
though I might have sent it by registered mail, 
and that is only a part of the debt I find my- 
self owing you.” 

Please don’t mention it, sir,” spoke up 
Jack, hastily. 

^‘But I must, for it gives me a very un- 
pleasant feeling every time I think of what 
that reckless adventurer, Ten Eyck, and his 
equally unprincipled confederate, Billie Ragin, 
as I knew him, would have done to me to 
make me confess where I had hidden this 
paper away. You see, they must have been 


STORMBOUND 


231 


promised a very large reward by a cert.ain 
combination of capitalists who could make 
good use of this document by destroying 
it, once they got it in their possession. Al- 
though you might not think so, it is worth 
fully one hundred thousand dollars to this 
old gentleman, and also to those New York 
financiers who are so unprincipled.^’ 

“Wheel” gasped Budge, staring hard at 
the innocent looking little paper which Judge 
Rollins was waving in front of him as he 
spoke. 

“I w^as very foolish to take such chances,” 
the gentleman continued, thoughtfully, “and 
your good guardian told me as much, Alec; 
I thought I might as well go on with it to the 
end. It came near being a serious business 
for me, I realize now; and that I am in a 
position to carry out my trust I owe in a great 
measure to the bravery of Alec Travers and 
his good chums. 

The conversation w^as abruptly changed 
by Alec, who somehow could not bear to hear 
himseK praised, though willing that his com- 
rades should be at any time. Sitting there 
by that cheery fire, things seemed to take on 
quite a different aspect from what they had 
been a short time before. It is always that 


232 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


way when danger has vanished, and the 
warmth of a fire dispels the gloom around one. 

Freckles wondered what would become of 
the three escaped convicts, and whether they 
might finally make their escape across the lake 
into Canada. Jack was concerned more or 
less about the two stalled cars. Would Ten 
Eyck and Billie manage to come together 
again, and in some way get their hands on 
the racing car that had carried the former 
to the scene of the hold-up of Judge Rollins. 

It was a question that no one could answer, 
just then at any rate; and possibly they 
would never know the final outcome of the 
matter. 

'^As to my touring car,^’ remarked Judge 
Rollins, “I have some hopes of recovering 
possession of it again, after the worst of this 
storm has passed by. Perhaps, when we 
start out, we may strike a village or town 
where there is a garage, for such places are 
very common in these days of the auto. 
There I shall try to hire a responsible chauf- 
feu for the rest of my stay up here. Money 
will accomplish heaps of things, you know, 
boys. And first of all, we will come back 
here in another car, if the snow does not drift 
too deeply, and haul my Alco back to towm. 


STORMBOUND 


233 


where it can be put in decent shape again/^ 
All that looked simple enough, when seated 
there so comfortably by that cozy blaze in 
the old cabin that had so fortunately cropped 
up just when most needed. 

Freckles ventured a guess as to what might 
be happening to Ten Eyck and Billie about 
that time. 

don’t want to act mean,” he said, ''but 
seems like they’d only get what they deserved 
if they had a finger or a toe frosted before 
they got together, and built a fire; for of all 
the bad eggs they sure take the cake. They 
make me think of some other hard cases 
we’ve run up against, fellers, while touring 
the country on our bully motorcycle. Now, 
while I’m saying all this, I reckon I’d be one 
of the first to get out there, and help a poor 
half frozen critter like Billie, if I should hear 

a cry for help come ” 

Freckles came to a sudden stop in what he 
was saying, and sprang to his feet with a 
startled air, as a strange, weird sound began 
to fill the cabin, his whole manner indicating 
that he had an idea his generosity was about 
to be put to the test right then and there. 


234 


MOTORCYCLE CHXTMS 


CHAPTER XXII 

THE RESCUE PARTY 

Glory! if he didnT fetch that banjo, 
after all,’’ roared Freckles, as he discovered 
Budge squatted on the hard dirt floor of 
cabin, picking at the strings of his favorite 
musical instrument, and apparently oblivious 
to all around him, for his eyes had a dreamy 
look. 

Then, having found that the strings seemed 
to be aU right. Budge began to play, and at 
the same time warble about the ^^Mocking- 
bird,” an old but favorite song with the fat 
boy. 

Freckles pretended to be filled with disgust, 
and made all manner of suggestive motions, 
even to thrusting his fingers in his ears* but 
in spite of it all Budge went right along 
until he had finished his ditty. Then he 
calmly turned upon his tormentor, and asked 
with a look of surprise on his round face: 

^‘Were you saying anything, Freckles? I 
suppose you are a little surprised that I 


STORMBOUND 


235 


fetched her along; but then I know Alec and 
Jack don’t mind me warbling a little once 
in a while by the fire, to pass the time away. ” 
Plunkety-plunk his hand went across the 
strings, and he prepared to start on Coming 
Through the Rye,” which was another of his 
favorites. 

^^It sounds all right!” announced Judge 
Rollins, who was feeling so good after this 
outcome of his troubles that he would have 
said as much should Budge express a desire 
to pound a tomtom after the manner of a 
wild Fiji Islander, or a Zulu medicine man. 

‘T think myseK Budge deserves our thanks 
for wanting to entertain us,” Alec went on 
to remark, significantly. 

‘^And as majority rules with us, why, 
those who don’t like music can find a good 
cool roost outdoors,” was what Jack said; 
all of which made the fat boy grin happily; 
while Freckles sniffed disdainfully, humped 
his shoulders, and then, sitting there with 
his head between his knees, kept his fingers 
thrust in his ears. 

^^Oh! have it your own way, fellers,” he 
remarked. Guess I c’n stand it if the rest 
of 5^ou can; but it’s cruelty to animals, that’s 
what. ” 


236 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


Of course this was pretty much assumed, 
for shortly afterwards it might have been 
noticed that Freckles no longer closed his 
ears, but was sitting there listening to Budge 
with just as much interest as any of them; 
and even joining in each chorus, as certain 
school songs came aloug. 

It was indeed a singular thing to see those 
five before that fire, while over against the 
further log wall of the shack leaned four up- 
to-date motorcycles that hardly seemed in 
their element while a blizzard raged without. 

But things had turned out so well, after all 
the lowering skies, that light hearts were the 
rule in that camp. 

They sat up and talked and sang until 
quite late. 

Judge Rollins learned more about the ways 
of boys that night than he had ever known 
before; and he seemed to have taken a most 
decided fancy for the three chums of Alec 
Travers, to judge from the manner in which 
he looked upon them from time to time, with 
a really affectionate smile. 

It had been a wonderful experience for the 
childless financier, and might be the means of 
opening his heart from that time forth to 
doing more things for such lads in the great 


STORMBOUND 


237 


city who were debarred by poverty from 
enjoying the advantages of education, or 
even proper outdoor amusements. 

Every once in so often Alec would organize 
a raiding party, which he would lead outside 
to gather up more fuel, because he knew that 
during the many hours that must elapse before 
dawn they would have need of a considerable 
amount of wood. 

On such occasions those who remained in- 
doors would ask concerning the condition 
of the weather outside, with as much solici- 
tude as might be shown by people who ex- 
pected to go upon a picnic on the following 
day. 

Storm keeps up just as bad as ever,’’ 
was the announcement Alec made, after he 
and Freckles had for the very last time ven- 
tured forth, and come back with a goodly 
supply of wood, ^^and chances are we’ll stay 
stormbound here goodness only knows how 
long, unless ” 

Unless what, Alec?” asked Jack, as the 
other paused. 

Unless some one is willing to take chances 
with me in the morning, to find the road again, 
and heading south, come to a village where we 


238 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


caa get help, aad rescue the balance of the 
crowd, Alec went on to say. 

It might be noticed that he always counted 
himself in first whenever there was any 
difficult or dangerous work to be done. That 
w’as the generous nature of the boy, and 
which had made him the popular leader 
among his fellows that he was. 

^^I^m your mutton for that job!’' im- 
mediately exclaimed Freckles, ‘^because, you 
see, I’ve got such long legs no snowdrift 
can stall me. Promise me that, Alec, or I 
ain’t going to get much sleep tonight, griev- 
in’ over it.” 

Which of course Alec hastened to do. The 
fact of the matter was that he was only too 
glad to have Freckles offer his services so 
willingly; because, if it had been left to him 
to choose, he would have picked the tall boy 
out the first thing. 

It was getting late now, and all of them felt 
tired, so they determined to try and settle 
down and get what little comfort was pos- 
sible beside that fire. Let the storm howl and 
blow aU it wanted to, outdoors, they had little 
cause for complaint in there. 

Perhaps the less said about that night the 
better. None of them got much sleep be- 


STORMBOUND 


239 


cause they could not feel wholly comfortable 
at any time. While almost roasting in front, 
they would be shivering because some cur- 
rent of air crept through an open chink, and 
struck them squarely in the back. In fact, 
they had to turn around every little while to 
keep from being scorched on one side and 
frozen on the other. 

But then no one made much complaint. 
Freckles grumbled a bit, but then they under- 
stood he was only following out his usual 
habit, and that if pinned down to a confes- 
sion, he would willingly admit they had no 
reason to believe that their condition was 
so very bad. 

All Freckles had to do was to hearken to 
that wild wind that tore around outdoors to 
realize that they had been highly favored 
in running across this friendly shelter in the 
nick of time. 

But even a long night like this must have 
an end some time, and finally they saw that 
it was getting light outside. 

Everybody get up!^’ shouted Freckles, 
uncoiling his long form from the knot which 
he had been trying to consider a comfortable 
way of lying, just as though he might be a 
dog curling up. 


240 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


The fire was replenished, and the last 
of the provisions that Budge had packed 
away in his hamper brought into play. At 
any rate, the smell of breakfast cooking put 
new life into everyone. They did not dare 
conjecture, however, where their next meal 
was going to come from; it was to be hoped 
that a rescue might be effected before they 
reached extremes. 

And so the boys seemed just as merry over 
that ham and coffee and dry bread as though 
they did not know of a worry in the wide 
world. More than ever did Judge Rollins 
discover new causes to admire their cheery 
dispositions, when they could meet difficulties 
so gallantly, and conquer them too. 

But those of our readers who have enjoyed 
reading previous volumes in this series are 
well aware that Alec and his three chums were 
never ready to cry quits; and that a situation 
calling for nerve and daring always aroused 
their best qualities. 

Once the meal was disposed of, Alec con- 
sulted with the rest of his comrades, so that 
they might have a thorough understanding 
and no mistakes arise calculated to prove a 
serious hindrance to the success of his plans. 


STORMBOUND 


241 


Then he and Freckles got themselves ready 
to start out. 

Investigation early that morning had 
seemed to show that the blizzard rather gave 
promise of an early halt. Perhaps it might 
outlast the day, but Alec was of the opinion 
that it would wind up by another nightfall 
at the latest. 

The high wind had drifted the dry snow, 
so that by avoiding the worst places it would 
be possible to make decent headway. And as 
the wind was still about in the northwest 
they would have it almost dead behind their 
backs when following the road, once they 
came across it. 

Alec had taken his observations most care- 
fully because he knew only too well that the 
most serious part of the whole undertaking 
would be while he and Freckles were trying 
to find the road. Once that was reached 
all they had to do was to make their way 
along it, and sooner or later they were bound 
to run into a small town he knew could not 
be more than a few miles away. 

^^Got plenty of matches along with you, 
of course? questioned Jack, as the pair 
pulled the ears of their motoring caps well 
down, so as to screen their necks and then 


242 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


buttoned their leather jackets closely about 
them. 

“Yes, lots,” replied Freckles, slapping his 
j>ocket suggestively, “nobody ketches this 
chicken floating around loose in the woods 
when there ^s such a freeze as this on the 
rampage, without a bully supply of the fire- 
sticks in his jeans. And Alec is on to that 
game too, I give you my word. Ready here, 
old top! Me to hold my own with you every 
time. Good-bye, boys, and you, too, Judge 
Rollins. Just keep comfy for a little bit, 
and we ^11 bring help.” 

So they were soon breasting the storm. 

Freckles did not pretend to be anything 
like an expert woodsman, even if he was at 
home when it came to building' fires, and 
such small things. Hence, he was only too 
willing to leave all such matters to the better 
judgment of his companion, who had had 
long experience. 

Of course Alec had noticed the direction 
they had come when entering the woods on 
the preceding night, and it was well that he 
did so, since the snow had long since oblit- 
erated the last trace of the tracks of the motor- 
cycles, and had he depended on anything 


STORMBOUND 


243 


like this to guide him, he would have been 
groping in the dark in short order. 

So he pushed steadily onward, alive to the 
situation, and taking frequent observations 
as to what lay around him. 

Thus he remembered seeing three trees 
that grew together and made quite a queer 
formation; it had loomed up before the 
light of his lantern on the night just past and 
Alec had come near deciding to make the 
halt there; though on second thought he 
seemed to realize that the shelter would not 
be sufficient for five of them, and that they 
had better go further on. 

Then he sighted a bent tree that looked 
like the hump of a camel; and shortly after- 
wards the tall stump of one that seemed as 
though it might have been splintered by 
lightning within the last year. 

^^It^s all right. Freckles,’’ he remarked, 
seeing his chum glancing at him with a 
question on his fajce, “I recognize that tree 
as one we passed last night. And unless 
I’m greatly mistaken, the road must be just 
over there, not more than fifty feet or so.” 

'^Hurrah!” burst out the other, who had 
begun to secretly worry, when he realized 
what it would mean should they really lose 


244 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


their bearings in the midst of that snow forest. 

It turned out just as Alec predicted, for 
they ran upon the road in less than three 
minutes; though they had to look sharp 
even when they struck it, because under such 
a disguise as the heavy snow made, it was 
difficult to tell just ’where a road could lie. 

Once they had their backs to the furious 
wind and pelting fine snow, the boys pushed 
on resolutely. 

The cold was something fierce, just as 
Freckles remarked three separate times, and 
had they been facing the bitter wind instead 
of turning their backs on it, they could not 
have continued without starting a fire to 
warm themselves at, after half an hour^s ex- 
perience. 

^^Fine ending of a winter cruise over these 
Northern roads on motorcycles, ainT it 
now?” grunted the tall boy, as he bent half 
way down, and kept pace with his chum. 

^'It all comes in the game,” was the cheery 
reply Alec made; for he seldom if ever had 
an excuse for grumbling; and this sort of 
thing always caused Freckles to feel ashamed 
of his failing; so that he did not say another 
word as they fought their way along, yard 


STORMBOUND 


245 


after yard, with a dogged persistence that 
would not be denied. 

And in the end they did come to the vil- 
lage, although it looked pretty desolate just 
then, in the grip of the first storm of the 
winter. The boys made their way to a 
tavern, where they thawed out beside a 
rousing fire. Alec soon made a bargain with 
a man who owned a livery stable near by; 
and half an hour later a big sleigh, loaded 
down with all manner of warm rugs and furs, 
started back over the course. 

Here the sleigh and driver were left, while 
the two lads made their their way through 
the woods, to surprise their comrades with 
the good news. 

Smoke was seen coming out of the rude 
chimney of the lone cabin when they drew 
near; and Freckles, suddenly bursting the 
door open, so that it fell in, shouted at the 
top of his voice, after his usual boisterous 
fashion : 

^ ^ Tally-ho for Lockport ! Everybody ^s that 
is going get ready, and run your machines 
through to the road. This cabin’s ordered 
vacated right here and now. And them that 
don ’t want to be left behind in the rush, get 
a move on, please!” 


246 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


CHAPTER XXIII 

HOMEWARD BOUND — CONCLUSION 

It was no end of a job, as Freckles declared, 
getting the motorcycles through that snow- 
covered woods to the road, where they could 
be stacked on the sleigh, while the passengers 
held on the best way possible. 

After more or less hard work, however, the 
job was accomplished, though Alec did have 
to go back and lend Budge a helping hand, 
for the fat boy was utterly exhausted, and 
had come to a complete standstill, while he 
breathed like a winded nag. 

Then the journey was begun. 

It was most assuredly like nothing the 
four boys had ever passed through before; 
and even Judge Rollins, with his long life 
to look back upon, could not remember having 
experienced the like. He declared again and 
again that he would never forget it, but 
must often in memory see that big sleigh 
with its strange load, creeping along through 
the driving snow, with the heads of every 


STORMBOUND 


247 


passenger as well as that of the driver bent 
before the fierce blast. 

In the end, however, they arrived at the 
village, and were soon inside the hospitable 
doors of the tavern, where the wheels were 
stacked in a corner, and the boys did ample 
justice to the midday meal, that piping hot 
was presently placed before them. 

Judge Rollins had been making his plans, 
and after dinner he set about carrying them 
out. Calling in the assistance of the local 
police force, he engaged a car that was capable 
of standing up against even such a wild gale, 
and then boldly set out to recover his touring 
car. But it might have been noticed that, 
first of all, he left his valuables, and that 
document as well, in a sealed package that 
the landlord secretly placed in his safe; and 
also that Judge Rollins supplied himself with 
a revolver which he purchased at the local 
hardware store. 

Meanwhile the boys had wired home, and 
assured the folks that they were all well. 
To Mr. Worthington Alec sent a longer mes- 
sage, telling him briefly a few of the things 
that had happened, and also that he had suc- 
ceeded in placing the paper in the hands of 
the owner. Judge Rollins. 


248 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


When they got back Alec would have quite 
a stirring account to tell his guardian, who 
always took the keenest interest in whatever 
the boy entered into, and would be only 
too well pleased to sit and listen by the 
hour, if it happened that way. 

Of course, as a railroad ran through the vil- 
lage there was a roundabout way of getting 
back to Staunton. A train would be along 
about the middle of the afternoon, they were 
told, unless it chanced to be delayed by the 
snow, which they could take, storing their 
motorcycles in the baggage car, and after 
making only two changes, they would land 
in their own town. 

^^Well, here’s where we’ve got to the last 
stag#^ in our adventurous journey,” remarked 
Fret;kles, after they had helped stow their 
motorcycles in the car, and then deposited 
themselves in another part of the train. 

Alec laughed softly. 

wouldn’t be too sure about that, if I 
were you. Freckles,” he observed, with a 
wink in the direction of Jack. 

‘‘And why not?” demanded the lanky 
chum, looking up quickly, as though he could 
scent new trouble in store. 

“Well, all sorts of things might happen. 


STORMBOUND 


249 


you kuow, especially when a train is running 
haphazard through a blinding blizzard/’ 
replied Alec. 

Great governor! you don’t think there’s 
any chance of . our machines getting all 
smashed up, do you?” asked Budge, also 
taking the alarm. 

^^It might happen, you know, if the train 
ran off the track; but then there’s one conso- 
lation we’ve got,” Alec went on to remark, 
resignedly. 

Which is what?” demanded Freckles. 

^^None of us will be in a condition to make 
any complaint,” drily answered Alec; at 
which Jack broke out into a laugh, just as 
though he thought it comical, while neither 
of the others found anything to be merry 
about in contemplating such an ending^^to a 
lively outing. 

^^Well, anyhow, I hope Judge Rollins gets 
his old car back, safe and sound?” remarked 
Jack, presently. 

^^Do you think he will?” asked Budge. 

‘^Well, that depends a whole lot on who’s 
who,” replied Alec. ^^If those three men 
in zebra clothes are still hanging around that 
place, they may not know how to repair the 
breaks in the tires, and so they just can’t 


250 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


make any decent use of the cars, either of 
them. But if they pulled out, and either of 
the others come back, why, that’s a different 
matter, because they know how to go about 
it/’ 

^^But they wouldn’t dare touch the tour- 
ing car, because that would only get them up 
against the tourists’ association, that prose- 
cutes auto thieves to the bitter end, regard- 
less of any considerations.” 

wonder if they’ll be gobbled up again?” 
ventured Freckles. 

“Now, I suppose you mean the two men 
who were holding Judge Rollins a prisoner, 
and meant to rob him, given a little time. 
Well, they’ve succeeded in waking him up 
now, and I don’t think he’ll ever give such 
people half a chance again, do you? Both of 
those men are hard customers, and I miss my 
guess if they ’re ever taken again except thro ugh 
trickery. But we never expect to see them, 
or even hear of them again, so we can forget 
all about them now.” 

Freckles was not quite so sure. 

“You know men like that, with all the 
world having its hand raised against them, 
are desperate customers to run in, and be- 
fore they throw up their hands I warrant you 


STORMBOUND 


251 


they’ll make a heap of trouble for the ward- 
ens. They didn’t know who we were, or 
where we came from; so even if they should 
get away they won’t know who to look after 
in case they want to retaliate.” 

Budge said amen ” to that. True enough, 
he had seen nothing of the three convicts, but 
he had heard their fierce yelling, and that 
was quite enough for him. He did not want 
to make the acquaintance of such desperate 
fellows, for after all Budge was a lover of 
peace, and never allowed himself to be en- 
tangled in actual warfare, except as a last 
resort. 

But these dismal hints concerning another 
string of happenings fell to the ground, 
harmless, for they arrived in Staunton that 
evening just at dark, with nothing serious 
the matter with any of them, or their 
wheels either, for that matter. 

As they were not expected, there was no 
one to meet them, which suited all the boys 
save Freckles mighty well. That individual 
seemed to half expect to find all Staunton 
waiting there, with a brass band to play 
'^Lo, the Conquering Heroes Come,” and 
with red fire galore to paint the town a vivid 
hue. 


252 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


The storm had not been so severe further 
south, and it was not a diflScult task for the 
boys to ride home from the stations on their 
motorcycles, though they went very care- 
fully, not wanting to meet with an accident 
on the home-stretch after passing through all 
those eventful scenes unharmed. 

Seems like weVe been gone a whole 
month,’' remarked Freckles, as they stood 
at the railroad station, getting ready to make 
a start. 

fact!” echoed Jack. 

^^So much has happened since we went 
out, that it’s no wonder we’ve kind of lost 
track of time,” added Alec. 

^^How long ago was it anyhow?” asked 
Budge, with an air of bewilderment that 
made the others roar. 

^^Just two days by actual measurement,” 
replied Jack, ^^but if you made allowances for 
all the things we’ve been up against, I should 
think it was nearer two weeks. In all our 
traveling about the country I don’t think 
we ever had so many exciting things come 
along in such rapid-fire order, do you, Alec?” 

^^Well,” was the non-committal answer 
of the leader, as he prepared to start off on 
his machine, “it was a pretty warm propo- 


STORMBOUND 


253 


sition, that’s all I care to say, and just re- 
member that we’ll get together at my house 
in the morning, to spin the yarn for the bene- 
fit of my guardian. Three heads are better 
than one, and perhaps some of you can de- 
scribe certain parts of the story better than I 
could. There’s that affair of Budge making 
a prisoner of Billie the chauffeur; nobody 
can do that justice but him. And so it goes. 
You’ll run around about nine, fellows, won’t 
you? ” 

They said they’d be only too glad to do so; 
and with that they separated, each starting 
out to cautiously negoitate the slippery 
streets, which were in no suitable condition 
for motorcycle travel. 

But they all succeeded in getting safely 
home, because Alec, a little worried, made it 
a point to call each one of his three chums up 
later on, after supper, and find out that this 
was so. 

The boys were all on hand the next morning. 

Alec had a little surprise for them in the 
shape of a night letter from Judge Rollins 
which he read to them. The gentleman must 
have felt that they would be somewhat curious 
to know whether he had recovered his Alco 
car again; and also if he had learned anything 


254 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


new in connection with either of the three es- 
caped convicts, or Ten Eyck aod Billie. 

‘‘Found car — all fixed — go on in morning — 
hope to see you all before long when return- 
ing — racing car gone — ^no sign stripes or 
others — expect Ten Eyck came back — ^per- 
haps Billie too — ^will be on guard after this. 
Good luck to you all. Judge Rollins.” 

Then Mr. Worthington came in, and the 
tongues began to rattle. There was little 
necessity for Alec to say much, when Freckles 
and Budge each wanted to keep on the floor, 
and spinning the yarn from beginning to end. 
Once in a while Alec called them up short, 
when the flattery began to get too thick for 
him to stand; but they stuck to their guns 
all the same, and put most of the honor for 
wonderful success of their adventure where 
honor was due. 

And Mr. Worthington was a wise old 
gentleman who could read between the lines. 
Besides, he knew just what his ward was 
capable of doing once he set his mind on 
anything; so he just listened, and absorbed 
it all and was able to draw his own conclusions 
afterwards. 

They put in the whole day talking it all 
over, for no end of things came up that ere- 


STORMBOUND 


255 


ated mild argument, until they were threshed 
out and made plain. 

Of course the motorcycles were taken care 
of, and oiled and wiped clean; so that the 
shining speed mounts might be found in A1 
condition when next needed. They say the 
Arab is kinder to his horse than to his wife, 
and, however true that may be, the wise 
owner of a motorcycle always looks after his 
wheel when he has exposed it to slush and 
mud, because he risks his life every time 
he rides forth, and the better care the less 
chance of a mishap. 

And sure enough. Judge Rollins did turn 
up within the week, to be warmly greeted 
by his old friend Mr. Worthington, who 
seemed to feel an even deeper interest than 
ever in the financier since the latter had 
become, as it were, an Honor member of the 
motorcycle club. Together they sat and 
talked of all that had happened, and Alecks 
guardian heard an entirely new account of 
the doings of the boys, that made him more 
pleased than ever. 

Those boys could have had almost any- 
thing they wanted, the gentleman was so 
filled with benevolent intentions, but they 
steadfastly declined to accept of anything 


256 


MOTORCYCLE CHUMS 


more than the small expenses of their trip. 

But there was some sort of a secret between 
the two elderly gentlemen; for when Judge 
Rollins finally went away he smiled at Mr. 
Worthington, and winked in a very knowing 
manner as though they had something all 
fixed up. 

Perhaps some fine day Alec and his chums 
might find themselves face to face with a nice 
little surprise; and if that turns out to be the 
case let us hope that we will have the pleasure 
of relating the facts connected with it in 
another volume for the edification of the 
numerous boy readers who have thus far 
delighted to follow the adventurous fortunes 
of Alec, Jack, Freckles, and Budge. 

The End. 


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